What is the Dome of the Rock and what is its significance?

Arabic QUBBAT AS-SAKHRAH, also erroneously referred to as the MOSQUE OF OMAR, this shrine in Jerusalem is the oldest extant Islamic monument. The rock over which the shrine was built is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

What does the Dome of the Rock cover?

As its name suggests, the dome covers a slab of stone sacred to both the Muslim and Jewish faiths. According to Jewish tradition, it was here that Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son. Islamic tradition has the Prophet Muhammad ascending to heaven from this spot.

What’s the name of the dome of the rock?

The jewel in the crown of Temple Mount/Al Haram Ash Sharif is the gold-plated Dome of the Rock, the enduring symbol of the city and one of the most photographed buildings on earth. As its name suggests, the dome covers a slab of stone sacred to both the Muslim and Jewish faiths.

Is the dome of the rock sacred to Muslims?

Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem’s iconic symbol is the gleaming Dome of the Rock, whose golden roof has dominated the Temple Mount for centuries. This Islamic holy place stands on a site that is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. • To Jews, this is where Abraham, in a supreme act of faith, prepared to offer his son Isaac on Mount Moriah.

Is the dome of the rock a World Heritage Site?

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been called “Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmark,” along with two nearby Old City structures, the Western Wall, and the “Resurrection Rotunda” in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Is the dome of the Rock open to the public?

These are usually 7.30-11am and 1.30-2.30pm (closed Fridays and on religious holidays), but can change. Modest dress is required. Non-Muslims are not normally allowed into the Dome of the Rock or the Al Aqsa Mosque. Non-Muslim prayer on the Temple Mount is not permitted.