MUSLIM TOURISM
May 2023
contribute to the mosque’s unusual appearance. The mosque itself was first built out of wood. A few years later, it was rebuilt out of stone. The mosque has a capacity of up to 5,000 worshipers, and is currently controlled by the Jordanian Waqf. Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem The Dome of the Rock is Islam’s third holiest site, located on a top plaza on the Temple Mount. It is considered one of the most prominent monuments in Jerusalem, and the oldest Muslim structure in the world, to which Muslims, as well as members of other religions from all over the
world, look up. The dome, which is
considered a masterpiece and the pinnacle of Muslim architecture and art, is also known as the “Golden Dome.” It is one of the most beautiful Muslim buildings in the world. It was built in 691 AD by the Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik, and its purpose was to serve as the abode of the rock (the Muslim foundation stone). The function of the structure is to glorify and strengthen the stone by “enveloping” the huge rock that stands at its center. The structure is of paramount importance to Islam, since, according to Muslim belief, it is the place where Abraham bound his son Ishmael, as
in 705 AD, by al-Walid, the son of ‘Abd al-Melech, the builder of the Dome of the Rock (see expansion below). To this day, the circumstances behind Al-Aqsa’s establishment are not known, and they are the subject of ongoing controversy among scholars and historians.
The mosque has undergone many forms and transformations; it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the years. This has resulted in an architecturally complex structure, with an abundance of wings and enclaves, which differ in nature and character, and
4 • www.itn.co.il
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