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extending beyond the present North wall of the Old City. That same hill is the traditional site of Abraham's
sacrificial altar for Isaac, the threshing floor of Ornan (or Araunah), and the site of the First and the Second Temple.
The Foundation Stone is not solid, beneath it lies a cave and a well, known as "the well of souls."
East of the exposed bedrock in the Dome of the Rock is a tall cupboard where it is believed hairs from the beard of
Mohammed are contained. Within the hollowed out chamber of under the rock are the "places of prayer" of Elijah,
Abraham, David, and Solomon. The Muslims call this cave the "well of souls" where they believe the dead meet
twice a week to pray.
In medieval times this spot was considered to be the "center of the world" and was marked such on maps. Since the
rock under the Dome of the Rock, where the cave is, shows the effects of quarrying above the level of the cave, it is
logical to hold that the rock stood higher originally and that the threshing floor surrounded the rock and the cave.
The exterior of the Dome is covered with tiles from Persia as well as marble. The "Golden Dome" is not made out of
gold but rather anodized aluminum. The original dome was wooden, later covered with brass, and then lead
sheathing in 1448. The excess weight of the lead-clad dome caused grave concern for the entire building because of
periodic severe earthquakes in Jerusalem and finally the anodized aluminum dome. Most recently, in 1993, a million
dollars in gold foil was provided by the government of Saudi Arabia as a gift. As of this writing the installation of
the gold leaf has now been completed and the dome is today resplendent in brilliant pure gold.
During the seventeen centuries of the Dome's existence it has undergone many repairs but it has not been
substantially changed in overall appearance since its completion in A. D 691. After one of the earliest renovations in
A. D 820, Caliph al-Mamun removed the name of Caliph Abd el-Malik from the dedication plate and inserted his
own name instead. However he neglected to change the dates and his fraud is there for all to see.
The Dome's beauty
Writing about A. D 985, Mukadassi, the famous Muslim traveler born in Jerusalem, wrote:
At the dawn, when the light of the sun first strikes on the cupola and the drum catches the rays, then is this edifice a
marvelous site to behold and one such that in all Islam I have never seen its equal; neither have I heard tell of aught
built in pagan times that could rival in grace this Dome of the Rock.
A Denial of Christianity
From the Muslim point of view the Dome of the Rock was an answer to and a denial of the attractions of
Christianity and its Scriptures, providing the "faithful" with arguments to be used against Christian theology. The
inscriptions are seven hundred and thirty-four feet long in all, amongst the lengthiest inscriptions in the world. There
is a great amount of repetition and many quotations from the Koran.
The following extracts are relevant:
Inner Face: South Wall. "In the name of Allah the Merciful the Compassionate. There is no God but Allah alone; he has
no co-partner. He is the Kingship and His the praise. He giveth life and He causeth to die, and He hath power over
everything."
South-East Wall. "Verily Allah and His angels pronounce blessing upon the Prophet. O ye who have pronounced
blessings upon Him and give Him the salutation of peace. O, People of the Book [i. e. the Jews and Christians, always
referred to as such by the Muslims] do not go beyond the bounds in your religion and do not say about Allah anything
but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, is but a messenger of Allah and His word which he cast upon Mary, and
a spirit from Him. So believe only in Allah and of his messenger, but do not say "Three" [Trinity] and it will be better
for you. Allah is only one God. Far be it from His glory that he should have a son."
North Wall. "The Messiah will not deign to be in the service of Allah nor will the angels who stand in his presence. O
Allah; pray upon Thy messenger "the servant Jesus - [N-W Wall] the son of Mary and peace be upon him the day of his
birth, the day of his death and the day of his being raised alive. That is Jesus, son of Mary - a statement concerning
which YOU are in doubt. It is not for Allah to take for Himself any offspring, glory be to Him."
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done… 49