Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem, Israel
Harmony with Nature
The colors of this building signify the color of beauty and wealth. The 24 karat gold and the soothing cyan colors beautifully match together to form a breathtaking exterior, which is beautifully engraved in various moisaics and engraings, including writings from the Quran, the muslim holy book. The dome is very symmetrical as is rest of the octagonal building, uniquely shaped and holding various designs, details and colored glasses that reflect the tranquil and delicate beauty of nature.
Symbolism and Sacred Objects
The Dome of the Rock has a very significant role in the religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, the three major monotheistic religions of the world. It is used as a prayer site for Muslims. There is a story written in the Quran about the Prophet Muhammad as he journeyed into heaven, and on the way of this Miraj, he prayed with all the other prophets (Rasools) in the Dome of the Rock, called the Masjid Al-Aqsa by Muslims. From the roof of this structure, the Prophet Muhammad ascended into the glorious depths of heaven with the angel Gabriel. This place, after the Kabah in Makkah and the home of Prophet Muhammad, in Medina, is the third most holy place in the Islamic religion. On the roof interior in the Dome of the Rock, there are engraved writings of Sura-Yaseen, a chapter of the Quran. Many Azaan clocks (clocks that can read the Azaan, a call for prayer) are elaborately shaped like the Dome of The Rock. In the Christian religion, this is the site where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, Isaac. He was about to do so on a rock that protruded from the platform. On this same platform, Solomon built his temple. It is also seen as the Second Coming of Christ for some Christians.
How it is used by Worshippers
For Jewish people, the location of the stone on the platform is the holiest place on earth, being the place for the Holy of Holies during the Temple Period. For Christians, it is a beautiful shrine to the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and is called the Church of Holy Wisdom. In Islam, this is a Masjid (a place of prayer for Muslim people) which is known as Masjid Al-Aqsa. Holding a large number of people, one-thousand-five-hundred at prayer, this shrine has separate rooms for men and women, as dictated by the Islamic religion. The room is held for only women during Al-Asr Salaat (prayer), which takes place in the afternoon and is open to every Muslim in Friday, the Muslim’s holy day of the week.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Felsendom_mit_Kettendom_2006.JPG
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/domeofrock.html
http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/dome_of_the_rock.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock
By Gohar Manzar
General Description
The Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, Israel, is a magnificent shrine built somewhere between 685 and 691 AD. The platform upon which it is built is known as the Temple Mount to the Jewish people and as Haram al-Sharif to the Muslim people. This temple was originally the rock of Mount Moriah. This structure was remodeled during the rule of Herod the Great, who made the platform much larger than it was previously. The platform was originally built by Muslims, specifically by the Muslim Caliph AbdulMalek bin Marwan, in the seventh century, but was later consecrated by Christians during the Crusades, but was later reconquered by Muslims, more specifically, Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi. Currently, starting 19548, there are ensuing conflicts over which religion, the Jews, Christians or Muslims, should get right to worship most freely and frequently in this shrine.
Architectural Design
The dome of the octagonal structure is twelve times fifteen meters. Under the rock, there is a specific structure known as the Cave of Souls. On four sides of the octagon, which is made of porcelean, there are large gates that are arched. Each arch points north, south, east and west. The outer part of the dome has a radius of ten and a half meters while the inner part of the dome has a radius of ten meters. There are eight stairways that lead to the platform on the Dome of the Rock. On the top of the dome is a sun dial, which is interestingly accurate to five minutes of actual time. This shrine has fifty-four windows, of which two are clear glass and thirty-six are colored. Some of these windows have Quranic verses and are one of the most extravangant windows of the entire world.
The Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, Israel, is a magnificent shrine built somewhere between 685 and 691 AD. The platform upon which it is built is known as the Temple Mount to the Jewish people and as Haram al-Sharif to the Muslim people. This temple was originally the rock of Mount Moriah. This structure was remodeled during the rule of Herod the Great, who made the platform much larger than it was previously. The platform was originally built by Muslims, specifically by the Muslim Caliph AbdulMalek bin Marwan, in the seventh century, but was later consecrated by Christians during the Crusades, but was later reconquered by Muslims, more specifically, Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi. Currently, starting 19548, there are ensuing conflicts over which religion, the Jews, Christians or Muslims, should get right to worship most freely and frequently in this shrine.
Architectural Design
The dome of the octagonal structure is twelve times fifteen meters. Under the rock, there is a specific structure known as the Cave of Souls. On four sides of the octagon, which is made of porcelean, there are large gates that are arched. Each arch points north, south, east and west. The outer part of the dome has a radius of ten and a half meters while the inner part of the dome has a radius of ten meters. There are eight stairways that lead to the platform on the Dome of the Rock. On the top of the dome is a sun dial, which is interestingly accurate to five minutes of actual time. This shrine has fifty-four windows, of which two are clear glass and thirty-six are colored. Some of these windows have Quranic verses and are one of the most extravangant windows of the entire world.
Harmony with Nature
The colors of this building signify the color of beauty and wealth. The 24 karat gold and the soothing cyan colors beautifully match together to form a breathtaking exterior, which is beautifully engraved in various moisaics and engraings, including writings from the Quran, the muslim holy book. The dome is very symmetrical as is rest of the octagonal building, uniquely shaped and holding various designs, details and colored glasses that reflect the tranquil and delicate beauty of nature.
Symbolism and Sacred Objects
The Dome of the Rock has a very significant role in the religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, the three major monotheistic religions of the world. It is used as a prayer site for Muslims. There is a story written in the Quran about the Prophet Muhammad as he journeyed into heaven, and on the way of this Miraj, he prayed with all the other prophets (Rasools) in the Dome of the Rock, called the Masjid Al-Aqsa by Muslims. From the roof of this structure, the Prophet Muhammad ascended into the glorious depths of heaven with the angel Gabriel. This place, after the Kabah in Makkah and the home of Prophet Muhammad, in Medina, is the third most holy place in the Islamic religion. On the roof interior in the Dome of the Rock, there are engraved writings of Sura-Yaseen, a chapter of the Quran. Many Azaan clocks (clocks that can read the Azaan, a call for prayer) are elaborately shaped like the Dome of The Rock. In the Christian religion, this is the site where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son, Isaac. He was about to do so on a rock that protruded from the platform. On this same platform, Solomon built his temple. It is also seen as the Second Coming of Christ for some Christians.
How it is used by Worshippers
For Jewish people, the location of the stone on the platform is the holiest place on earth, being the place for the Holy of Holies during the Temple Period. For Christians, it is a beautiful shrine to the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and is called the Church of Holy Wisdom. In Islam, this is a Masjid (a place of prayer for Muslim people) which is known as Masjid Al-Aqsa. Holding a large number of people, one-thousand-five-hundred at prayer, this shrine has separate rooms for men and women, as dictated by the Islamic religion. The room is held for only women during Al-Asr Salaat (prayer), which takes place in the afternoon and is open to every Muslim in Friday, the Muslim’s holy day of the week.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Felsendom_mit_Kettendom_2006.JPG
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/domeofrock.html
http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/dome_of_the_rock.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock
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