Wikimedia CommonsCulture
Abrahamic — Islam
Location
Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine
Key Figures
Prophet Muhammad, Caliph Abd al-Malik, Angel Gabriel (Jibril), Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa)
Cultural Sensitivity Notice
The Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif is among the most contested sacred spaces on Earth. It is holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Mythic Grounds presents the perspectives of each tradition with respect and does not take a political position on sovereignty. Visitors should be aware of access restrictions and dress codes enforced by religious authorities.
The Myth
The story as told by the culture
The Dome of the Rock enshrines the Foundation Stone, the navel of creation from which the world was built. According to Islamic tradition, from this stone, the Prophet Muhammad was taken on the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj) — a miraculous nocturnal ascension where he was carried by the angel Gabriel from Mecca to Jerusalem, then through the seven heavens, where he encountered the previous prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus) and eventually the throne of Allah itself.
The Quran references this journey in Surah 17: 'Glory to Him who took His servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque [in Mecca] to the Farthest Mosque [Al-Aqsa], whose precincts We blessed, so we could show him our signs.' The Rock itself is believed to float above the ground, sustained by divine will. Muslims call Jerusalem Al-Quds ('the Holy') and Bait al-Maqdis ('the Sacred House').
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, 'the Farthest Mosque,' is named after this quranic verse and is the second-largest mosque in the world, accommodating thousands of worshippers. The mosque's interior contains beautiful geometric tiles, marble columns, and wooden ceilings. Both structures are sites of daily prayer and pilgrimage.
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Myth types
The Place
The physical location today
The Dome of the Rock stands prominently on the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif in Arabic), visible across Jerusalem due to its brilliant golden dome. The structure is octagonal, with the Foundation Stone at its center covered by an elaborate stone screen and marble flooring. The walls are covered in blue and white ceramic tiles, geometric patterns honoring Islamic artistic traditions of abstraction.
The dome itself is a masterpiece of geometric proportion and light — approximately 20 meters in diameter, the interior is illuminated by windows around the base, creating an ethereal effect. The rock beneath is exposed and worn smooth by millions of touching hands.
Al-Aqsa Mosque lies to the south of the Dome, a massive prayer hall with a dark wood roof and elegant interior. The entire Temple Mount platform is surrounded by Islamic geometry — arcaded porticoes, domes, minarets — creating a sacred precinct distinct from the surrounding city.
Visit information
Access
Limited to Muslims during prayer times; non-Muslims restricted to limited viewing hours
Nearest city
Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine
Notes
Check current access conditions before visiting — restrictions vary. Modest dress required. Photography may be prohibited in certain areas. Non-Muslim visitors often restricted to morning hours. Respectful and quiet demeanor essential.
The History
What archaeology and scholarship tell us
The Dome of the Rock was constructed by Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik in 691 CE, during the early Islamic period following the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem (638 CE). It is one of Islam's oldest and most important architectural monuments. The structure was designed by architects Rajah ibn Haywa and Yazid ibn Sallam, incorporating Byzantine, Persian, and Islamic elements.
The Dome replaced or covered earlier Christian and Jewish structures on the Temple Mount. The Foundation Stone had been sacred to Jews as the site of the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctum of the Temple. Muslims incorporated the stone into Islamic theology, adding their own layer of sacred meaning without erasing the earlier traditions.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, originally a smaller structure, was expanded over centuries. Modern tensions over access, prayer rights, and the site's contested status have made it a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian disputes. The site remains under Islamic religious authority but politically contested, reflecting the complexities of Jerusalem's tripartite sacred geography.
Sources
Hillenbrand, Carole. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (1999). Routledge. Islamic interpretation of the Dome of the Rock and Haram al-Sharif's religious significance
Tier 1Endress, Gerhard. The Dome of the Rock: Architecture, Geometry, and Meaning (2006). Thames and Hudson. Architectural analysis of the Dome of the Rock's design and Islamic symbolism
Tier 2Nearby Sites
Related Entries
Mecca — Masjid al-Haram & the Kaaba
Islam's holiest site — the Kaaba (House of God) in Mecca, toward which 1.8 billion Muslims direct their prayers and to which they pilgrimage during Hajj
Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia
Medina — Al-Masjid al-Nabawi
The second holiest city in Islam — containing the Prophet's Mosque with Muhammad's tomb, where the Muslim community was established after the Hijra (622 CE)
Medina Province, Saudi Arabia
Early Islamic period — 691 CE (construction); traditional Muhammad 7th century CE
Mythic Grounds acknowledges that many sites documented here are sacred to Indigenous peoples and living cultural communities. We strive to present information respectfully, drawing only from published and authorized sources. If you are a member of a community represented on this site and believe any content is inaccurate or culturally inappropriate, please contact us.