Dome of the Rock Mosque
The Dome of the Rock Mosque is also called Qubbat al-Sakhra. The religious shrine is located in Israel. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Recently, Muslims have allowed tourists to visit the temple, but in order to get there, it is necessary to respect the feelings of believers. The image of the temple is present on the seal of the Templar Order.
Basic information
The Dome of the Rock Mosque is one of the oldest architectural monuments. It was ordered to be built by Caliph Abdul-Malik. He wanted to create a haven for pilgrims and did not skimp on construction. Next to the building, he installed a treasury filled with gold dinars so that the craftsmen could take funds for their expenses. A total of 100 thousand dinars were spent. The builders refused the fee, explaining that it was an honor for them to build the shrine. Then the Caliph ordered the dinars to be crushed and turned into dust, which was then used to cover the Dome of the Rock Mosque.
The building is an octagon made of marble with 4 entrances located on the cardinal points. The doors are decorated with bronze. There is no minaret here, because there is one in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is located 50 meters from the Dome of the Rock Mosque. It is not advisable to erect another minaret. The walls of the temple are half white, and above are lined with mosaics and patterns. Marble and mosaic were used in the cladding, inscriptions from the Koran were carved in gold.
Information for tourists
You need to dress modestly, otherwise you may not be allowed into the Dome of the Rock Mosque. Shorts or a short skirt are not allowed. You can sign up for a tour, but doing it yourself will be much cheaper. Tourists can buy a single ticket for 40 shekels to visit the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, which are located 50 meters from each other. Before entering the temple, you must take off your shoes. The mosque is closed to non-Muslims on Friday, Saturday and religious holidays. Tourists can explore the Dome of the Rock from 7.30 to 10.30 and from 12.30 to 13.30 in the summer. In winter, the shift ends at 10.00. You can get to the Temple Mount by bus No. 1, 3, 43. If tourists arrive at odd hours, they stroll around the colorful octagon, richly decorated with mosaics.
