"Dome of the Rock"

                                The Dome of the Rock

“Holy is He Who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque (in Makka) to the farther Mosque (in Jerusalem) – whose surroundings We have blessed – that We might show him some of Our signs ¹. Indeed He alone is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (Quran 17:1)

This religious verse from a holy book might not seem relevant or important to us in the west, but for over a billion Muslims this parable gives Muslims the divine right over Jerusalem.   As it is believed by all Muslims the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat As-Sakhrah) was the destination of Mohammed’s (PBUH) night journey. To commemorate this religious milestone, the Dome of the Rock was the first Islamic structure to be built using the dome design, the dome design that is now ubiquitous with modern day mosques worldwide. 

Originally constructed in the 7^th century, the Islamic shrine has been continuously remodeled and been overtaken ever since.  As an architect, some buildings are not just the sum of bricks and mortar but they are much more, a spiritual connection, a political statement, and even a sacred religious symbol.  So as an architectural student what do I take from this, well it is going to sound cliché: location, location, location.  If just the structure of the Dome of the Rock was in Egypt it would be a minor tourist attraction, well eclipsed by the Pyramids of Giza.   However the Dome of the Rock is in Israel and after the six day war it suddenly became the third holiest place in Islam behind the Kaaba in Makah and the Grand Mosque in Medina. 

A structure that laid abandoned and barely noticed became a symbol that people were willing to die for or even more importantly kill for.  So why is the Dome so important, why am I writing about it now, because of its location.  When you are faced with a building project, ask yourself not just about the budget, the specifications, but also take into account the location.  Location can make a building insignificant or all important.

Sources

1.     Isra and Miraj the Miraculous night Journey

http://www.islamicity.org/5843/isra-and-miraj-the-miraculous-night-journey/

2.     Home Page

http://domeoftherock.net/

3.     Encyclopedia Britannica

https://global.britannica.com/topic/Dome-of-the-Rock

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-dome-of-the-rock/photos/dome-of-the-rock-exterior-detail-c-torie
https://quadralectics.wordpress.com/3-contemplation/3-3-churches-and-tetradic-architecture/3-3-1-the-form-of-the-ground-plan/3-3-1-4-the-octagonal-church-plan/