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| Dome of the Rock,
History and Traditions |
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Source:
Jerusalem, Bethany, and Bethlehem, p.
45. |
General View of the
Mosque of Omar
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This beautiful mosque has a meaning within and above its beauty that no other
edifice can claim. It is the shelter or inclosure of the great altar of the
world. It has a post of sublime interest, and one always asks oneself, "What
will be the next great event in its history?" Away back in the childhood of the
world Abraham climbed these heights, yet untouched by man, and laid his son,
Isaac, there for an offering to the Lord, who had claimed it. After the trial
was over it became the "Mount of the Lord," and the Messiah was then promised.
Later the great plague that fell upon Israel was stayed at this spot--"the
threshing floor of Ornan, or Araunah"-and here David saw the great angel stand
between the heaven and the earth, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out
over Jerusalem. And another altar was built by David, upon which the Lord sent
holy fire. A few years later Solomon laid the foundation of the Lord's house
around the rock altar, and the great altar of the temple was built above the
sacred spot. (Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p. 119.) Ed.
note: In the 1800s, it was commonly believed that the rock was the site of the
Temple's altar. Today, it is widely held that the rock was the site of the
Temple itself. |
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Interior of the Mosque of Omar |
Source:
Earthly Footsteps of the Man of Galilee, p. 120. |
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When the Crusaders converted the Dome of
the Rock into their Templum Domini they formed
a choir in the centre, which was probably
co-extensive with the inner circle of piers
and columns, and placed the high altar on the
Sakhra, which was covered with marble slabs
and decorated with sculptured figures in
marble. The principal entrance was at that
time by the western door, on passing through
which the visitor had in front of him the
choir, and on the left of the choir the
Chapels of the "Presentation of Christ" and of
"Jacob's Dream." . . . The cave was at the
same time converted into a chapel, ornamented
with paintings and inscriptions commemorative
of the appearance of the angel to Zacharias,
and of the woman taken in adultery who was
brought before Jesus . . . .According to the
prescribed ceremonial the king was crowned in
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; he then
proceeded to the Templum Domini to offer his
crown on the altar of the Chapel of the
Presentation of Christ, and afterwards passed
to the Templum Salomonis (Mosque el Aksa),
where the Knights Templars had their
residence. Whilst the repairs were being
executed in 1873, several fragments of figures
and other memorials were found of the
occupation of the Dome of the Rock by the
Crusaders. (Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 1, pp. 62-64.) |
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Source: Matson Collection. |
Rock of Moriah from Dome |
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Many curious traditions are attached to the
Dome of the Rock. Immediately within the "Gate
of Paradise" is the "Sepulchre of Solomon." A
small piece of marble, called the "Flagstone
of Paradise," is let into the pavement above
the tomb. Into this marble Mohammed drove
nails, which at certain intervals drop through
to the tomb below; when they have all
disappeared the prophet will come to judge the
faithful. Three nails now remain perfect, and
one has sunk some depth. The place has a weird
interest to the Moslem pilgrim, who approaches
it with cautious step, mindful of the grave
advice of the attendant sheikh, "Take heed to
thy footsteps, O pilgrim! lest thou shake a
nail through and hasten the day of judgment."
Near the west side of the rock is preserved
the shield of Hamzeh, the uncle of Omar. The
shield is of very beautiful workmanship, and
is, perhaps, of Persian manufacture. Its face
is highly ornamented with figures of birds and
animals in low relief, the peacock being most
prominent; but it has been flattened in and
turned towards the wall to conceal the
forbidden figures from devout eyes. (Source:
Picturesque Palestine, vol. 1, p. 62.) |
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Cavern under Rock Moriah |
Source: Matson Collection. |
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On its south-east side [of the rock] a
flight of steps leads down to an excavated
chamber, or cave, about six feet high . . . .
In the roof is a circular hole, cut through
the entire thickness of the rock, and in the
floor beneath it is a marble slab covering a
deep cavity, called "The Well of the Spirits."
The guardian whispered to me that some learned
men considered it to be the entrance to
Paradise; others equally learned, the entrance
to the opposite region; "but," he added,
"Allah alone knows the truth." Going up the
stairs again, the guardian pointed out to me,
on a corner of the sacred rock, the "footprint
of Mohammed," impressed as he stepped upon it
to mount his horse Barak when commencing his
ride to Paradise; and not far distant the
"hand-print of Gabriel," who seized the rock
and held it down by main force as it was in
the act of rising to follow the prophet.
(Source:
Jerusalem, Bethany, and Bethlehem,
pp. 48-51.) |
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See
Temple Mount,
Exterior of the Dome of the Rock,
Interior of the Dome of the Rock,
Origin
of the Dome of the Rock,
Al Aqsa Mosque |
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