The building which is called 'Dome of the Rock' is located in Palestine, Jerusalem. It is in the Old City in the middle of the 'Noble Sanctuary' or Temple Mount. It is within the limits of the Masjid Aqsa Complex but it is not considered Masjid al Aqsa.
The Dome of the Rock is not a masjid. It is considered a 'shrine'. It is simply a very old beautiful building dating back to 692CE/ 66AH.
Definition of a 'dome' from Wikipedia:
The 'rock' that the dome covers has been seen as special for many reasons (although none of the reasons come from authentic Islamic sources and therefore the rock does not have a religious significance in Islaam according to the most correct opinion - see below for further explanation).
To understand the place of the Dome of the Rock within the Masjid Aqsa Complex Click here
For an historical account of the Dome of the Rock see below the following pictures:
The Dome of the Rock is not a masjid. It is considered a 'shrine'. It is simply a very old beautiful building dating back to 692CE/ 66AH.
Definition of a 'dome' from Wikipedia:
A dome is an architectural element that resembles the
hollow upper half of a sphere.
Domes have a long architectural lineage that extends
back into prehistory and they have been constructed from mud, snow, stone,
wood, brick, concrete, metal, glass, and plastic over the centuries.
The symbolism associated with domes includes mortuary,
celestial, and governmental traditions that have likewise developed over time.
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Geography
Find the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Palestine on the map:https://goo.gl/maps/s6FSnK5HqJx
To understand the place of the Dome of the Rock within the Masjid Aqsa Complex Click here
For an historical account of the Dome of the Rock see below the following pictures:
History
of the Dome of the Rock[1]
The building which is called the Dome of the Rock is
blue and gold. It is an octagonal shape. It is not a masjid – it is only a
structure over a rock. There is no religious significance to this building. The
‘Dome of the Rock’ building is seen as a masterpiece in Islamic architecture.
However it is simply a structure built over the rock and not a masjid to pray
in which many people are unaware of.
Masjid al Aqsa is not just the building with the
silver dome today which the Khalifah ‘Umar رضي الله عنه built. It covers the
whole walled area of the Complex with the Dome of the Rock in the middle. This
area is where Prophet Sulaymaan built his place of worship for Allaah
previously. However, when the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was taken to
Jerusalem on the ‘Night Journey’ he prayed at the spot where ‘Umar later prayed
and built the masjid which is now called ‘Masjid al Aqsa’. Some people
mistakenly believe that the blue and gold building (The Dome of the Rock) is
Masjid al Aqsa which is incorrect even though it is on the grounds of Masjid al
Aqsa.
“Shar’ee
Benefits about the Rock in Jerusalem” فوائد شرعية عن صخرة القدسby
Sulaymaan bin Saalih al Khuraash. (selected, translated and abridged by Umm
‘AbdirRahmaan)
The ‘rock’
is one of the high rocks of Jerusalem. It is found in the centre of the Masjid
Aqsa Complex. It measures approximately 18m x 13m. Some sides of the rock rise
about one metre. There is an opening to a cave below it. The rock is above it
and appears to be suspended between the sky and the earth.
v
The rock used to be the
prayer direction for the Jews and the Muslims in the beginning of Islaam until
it was abrogated and the Muslims faced Makkah as their Qiblah.
v
There is no specific significance
of this rock in Islaam. It is just located within the limits of Masjid al
Aqsaa.[2]
v
Shaykhul Islaam Ibn
Taymiyyah said the the rock used to be a Qiblah then it was abrogated and it is
the Qiblah of the Jews. There is nothing remaining in our Sharee’ah to specify
a ruling for it. Just as there is nothing in our Sharee’ah which obligates
anything special about Saturdays (the Sabbath). (2/11)
v
Shaykhul Islaam Ibn
Taymiyyah said “It is not mustahabb (recommended) to visit the rock. It is
mustahabb to pray in the front part of Masjid al Aqsaa which ‘Umar ibnul
Khattaab built for the Muslims.”
v
There is no tawaaf
(circling) anything except the Ka’bah. No tawaaf of the Prophet’s room, the
graves of the Prophets or righteous people, the rock in Jerusalem or other than
these.
v
‘Umar رضي الله عنه conquered Jerusalem
(Quds) in 15 AH.
v
He cleaned the rubbish on
the rock with his own cloak and ordered the Muslims to help clean it. The
Christians had dumped rubbish there to disgrace the Jews as they venerated that
place.
v
The Companion Ka’b al
Ahbaar who reverted to Islaam after being a Jewish Rabbi suggested to ‘Umar رضي الله عنه
that he pray behind the rock so that the original qiblah and the new qiblah
would both be covered but ‘Umar رضي الله عنه prayed in front of the rock saying that
this is where the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed.
v
The ahaadeeth regarding
Israa wal Mi’raaj (The Night Journey and the Ascension) do not specify the
place where the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ascended from (not from the rock or
otherwise).
v
There are many ahaadeeth on
the virtue of the ‘rock’ but none are authentic. Imaam ibnul Qayyim says they
are ‘lies and fabricated’.
v
Why was the dome placed
over the rock? Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said that it was built at the time
of the fitnah between ‘Abdullaah bin az Zubayr and ‘Abdul Malik al Marwaan. In
66AH ‘Abdul Malik ordered the Dome to be built and covered it with a cloth in
winter and summer to encourage people to visit Jerusalem so as not to gather in
Makkah with ‘Abdullaah bin az Zubayr and be influenced by him.
v
Some people say that the
footprint of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is in the rock which Imaam ibnul Qayyim
says is a lie.
See some
pictures on the blog: www.learnstoriesoftheprophets.blogspot.com
Historical
Notes based on Wikipedia
(Just for
information purposes only as not all the information coincides with what is
said from an Islamic perspective backed up by evidences):
Qubbat as
Sakhrah قبة
الصخرة The Dome of the Rock
It is
located in the Old City of Jerusalem on the Temple Mount (Masjid al Aqsa
Complex).
It was built
in 688-692 by the Umayyad Caliph ‘Abdul Malik al Marwan.
820s it was
expanded.
1020s, 1545,
1721, 1817, 1874, 1959, 1993 It was restored many times.
It is
considered one of the oldest existing works of Islamic Architecture. It is not
a masjid. It is only a building.
The Dome of
the Rock was built on the site of a Roman Temple which in turn was built on the
site of the 2nd Jewish Temple.
It is
octagonal in shape and its architecture and mosaic patterns follow the
Byzantine Churches and palaces of that time.
The Jews
venerate the site of the rock for the following reasons (only number 4 has
evidence in Islaam):
1.
The ‘Foundation Stone’ from
which the world expanded.
2.
The place where the dust
was gathered to create the first human Aadam.
3.
The site where Abraham
attempted to sacrifice his son (Muslims believe this happened in Makkah).
4.
The place where Jews face
to pray.
The Dome of
the Rock is situated in the centre of the Temple Mount – the site of the Temple
of Solomon and the Jewish 2nd Temple which was expanded by King
Herod in 1BC. The Temple was destroyed in 70CE by the Romans and a Roman temple
was built there in 135CE. Christians went there for pilgrimage.
Timeline
of the Dome of the Rock
687-691 Construction of the Dome of the
Rock (cost 7 times the yearly income tax of Egypt)
808
846 4 earthquakes damaged
the Dome of the Rock
1015
1927
1099 Crusaders captured
Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock was given to the Christians who turned it into a
Church. Masjid al Aqsa was turned into a Palace.
1187 Jerusalem was recaptured
by Salahuddeen and the Dome of the Rock returned to the Muslims.
1520-1566 The exterior of the Dome of the Rock
was covered in tiles with Surah Yaseen and Surah
Israa inscribed in the interior. It took 7 years to complete.
1874 All the tiles on the West
and South West sides were replaced with tiles from Turkey.
1955 Jordan renovated the
tiles.
1965 The Dome was covered with
durable aluminium bronze alloy from Italy and covered in gold leaf. (Previously the dome was
blackened lead).
1993 The dome was refurbished
with gold leaf costing 8 million dollars (80kg of gold).
***************************************************
Interesting
fact: Imaam Shaafi’ee was
born in Gaza, Palestine then travelled to Makkah.
Sources
used:
The Qur’aan
Sunnah.com
Ibn
Taymiyyah, Majmoo’ Fataawa 27/43; 2/60-64; 2/808-9; 2/811; 26/150;
Ibn Katheer,
Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, 7/56; 7/58
Mawsoo'ah Filistiniyyah Encyclopeadia of Palestine
“Shar’ee
Benefits about the Rock in Jerusalem” فوائد شرعية عن صخرة القدس by Sulaymaan bin
Saalih al Khuraash
Wikipedia
