The Dome of the Rock
To the Jews, the Dome of the Rock lies over the Holy of Holies where the original temple once stood (OT Temple of Solomon and NT Temple of Herod). It is also believed to be Mount Moriah, the place where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac. To Muslims, the rock over which the Dome rises also represents the location of Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac. It is also sacred because it is believed that the prophet Muhammad ascended from atop the rock into heaven during his night vision.
One day I tried to get in so I could see the rock myself. As I wrote in my journal, “I tried to act normal and get inside the Dome of the Rock but as I was removing my shoes like those around me, the man at the door asked me where I was from and if I was Muslim, of course I couldn’t lie.” It was so cool being in a place that I grew up only seeing on television and in books. Being up close, walking the temple grounds, touching the elegant walls of the Dome of the Rock, was simply breathtaking and unforgettable. |