Temple Mount
May 18, 2017
The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism, the third holiest site in Islam, and a revered site to Christians. To the Jews it is known as Har HaMoriyah (“Mount Moriah”) and Har HaBayit (“Temple Mount”); to Muslims it is known as Haram el Sharif (“the Sacred Noble Sanctuary”). Because of its importance to three major religions, its ownership has been hotly contested for nearly two thousand years. Today the Temple Mount is under the control of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a trust that was established in 1187 to manage the Islamic structures in Jerusalem. Under their current rules, access to the holy sites on the Temple Mount is prohibited to all non-Muslims.
The Temple Mount is the trapezoid-shaped, walled-in area in the southeastern corner of the Old City of Jerusalem. The four walls surrounding it date back – at least in their lower parts – to the time of the Second Jewish Temple built at the end of first century BCE. These huge supporting walls, partly buried underground, were built around the summit of the eastern hill identified as Mount Moriah. Jewish tradition holds that it is the site where God gathered the dust to create Adam. Moreover according to the Bible (Genesis 22:1–14), God told Abraham to bring his son Isaac to the land of Moriah (meaning “Chosen by Yah”) and offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain there. As Abraham was about to complete the sacrifice, God stopped him and provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice.
According to the Quran (Surah 17:1), Mohammed made a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in 621 CE. There he led worship at “the farthest mosque,” was lifted to heaven, and returned to earth to carry on his teachings. At that time there was no mosque in Jerusalem, but 15 years later, Caliph Umar built a small mosque to commemorate the prophet’s night visit. The Al Aqsa Mosque (“the farthest mosque”) was built on the Temple Mount in 705 CE, then rebuilt in 754, 780, and 1035. It is the third most holy site in the Muslim religion. The Dome of the Rock was built in 692 CE over the place where Mohammad supposedly ascended to heaven.
Three photos show the Temple Mount from a distance. The first shows the Al Aqsa Mosque in the far left corner, The Dome of the Rock slightly to the right of center, and lush gardens in several places.
Muslims have access to the Temple Mount from multiple gates, but non-Muslims must enter through this temporary wooden walkway to the Mugrabi Gate after undergoing a security check.
with a beautiful high vaulted external hallway.
A fountain surrounded by washing stations for personal cleansing prior to entering the Mosque to pray:
These are some of the many other ancient structures on the Temple Mount:
The Temple Mount is the trapezoid-shaped, walled-in area in the southeastern corner of the Old City of Jerusalem. The four walls surrounding it date back – at least in their lower parts – to the time of the Second Jewish Temple built at the end of first century BCE. These huge supporting walls, partly buried underground, were built around the summit of the eastern hill identified as Mount Moriah. Jewish tradition holds that it is the site where God gathered the dust to create Adam. Moreover according to the Bible (Genesis 22:1–14), God told Abraham to bring his son Isaac to the land of Moriah (meaning “Chosen by Yah”) and offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain there. As Abraham was about to complete the sacrifice, God stopped him and provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice.
According to the Quran (Surah 17:1), Mohammed made a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in 621 CE. There he led worship at “the farthest mosque,” was lifted to heaven, and returned to earth to carry on his teachings. At that time there was no mosque in Jerusalem, but 15 years later, Caliph Umar built a small mosque to commemorate the prophet’s night visit. The Al Aqsa Mosque (“the farthest mosque”) was built on the Temple Mount in 705 CE, then rebuilt in 754, 780, and 1035. It is the third most holy site in the Muslim religion. The Dome of the Rock was built in 692 CE over the place where Mohammad supposedly ascended to heaven.
Three photos show the Temple Mount from a distance. The first shows the Al Aqsa Mosque in the far left corner, The Dome of the Rock slightly to the right of center, and lush gardens in several places.
The second and third are good views of the two holiest structures.
Muslims have access to the Temple Mount from multiple gates, but non-Muslims must enter through this temporary wooden walkway to the Mugrabi Gate after undergoing a security check.
Our first site when we arrived on the Mount was an array of Corinthian capitals with the Al Aqsa Mosque in the background.
There wer a few trees, which provide comfortable shade.
The front of the Mosque
with a beautiful high vaulted external hallway.
A small group of observers:
A fountain surrounded by washing stations for personal cleansing prior to entering the Mosque to pray:
Arches leading to the Golden Dome:
The Dome itself:
There is also a smaller domed building slightly to the east of the Dome of the Rock, known as the Dome of the Chain — traditionally the location where a chain once rose to heaven.:
These are some of the many other ancient structures on the Temple Mount:
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