The Dome of the Rock - Why is it Sacred to Christians and Jews?

The sacred rock holds religious significance not only for Muslims, but for other religions as well. For instance, Christians and Jews during the Middle Ages believed that this was the site of the Temple of Solomon . Thus, during the Crusades, the Knights Templars had their headquarters at the Dome of the Rock, and their churches in Europe imitated its design. As for the Jews, this was believed to be the first part of the earth to come into existence, and it was from this sacred rock that the world was created. As this was regarded to be the center of the world, it became the spot where the Holy of Holies stood.
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Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/dome-rock-0010986
 
The Dome of the Rock is said to be where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son and also where Mohammad accented into heaven. It is the site of the second Temple of Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans in 66CE so to Christians the place of several significant events in the life of Jesus.
 
The Dome of the Rock is said to be where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son and also where Mohammad accented into heaven. It is the site of the second Temple of Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans in 66CE so to Christians the place of several significant events in the life of Jesus.
beat me to it. funnily enough, i was thinking about the Dome of the Rock and events that took place there just earlier today.
 

Philip

Donor
Hate to be that guy, but can we keep the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock separate? Saying that Abraham, Solomon, Jesus, or Mohammad had anything to do with the Dome of the Rock is simply anachronistic.
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
Both these religions have a base in Judaism. This mount is considered the place where Prophet Abraham decided to sacrifice Isaac,his son and eventually angel of God appeared to stop it. This is what is within Christianity and Judaism. Islam maintains that it was Ishmael and it happened at Mecca and the story is a bit different. Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the place considered to be Mohammed's ascent to Heaven. Judaism is the first one to consider it sacred. But however,as per real History,I think Jews(still called Israelites) had established the first settlement there and since it is semi green region in midst of a desert,it would be dear. Islam is just repackaged Judaism and Christianity. So Islam has some modified story of the ascent to Heaven. None of it can be verified by Science and actual History,however. These beliefs were built as per the requirements of the time being to attract Jews and Christians to the new growing religion and like that.
 
Hate to be that guy, but can we keep the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock separate? Saying that Abraham, Solomon, Jesus, or Mohammad had anything to do with the Dome of the Rock is simply anachronistic.

The Dome of the Rock itself isn't significant in Judaism but as the OP mentioned, the "Rock" in center of the Dome of the Rock is called the Foundation Stone in Judaism and traditionally is claimed to have been the location of the holiest site of the Temple, the Holy of Holies. It was traditionally near where Adam was formed from mud, where Cain, Able, Abraham, and David offered sacrifices, famously Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac.

The Foundation stone is foundational because according to Jewish traditions it was literally the first part of the Earth to come into existence and the rest of the world was created around it.

Every single Jew in the world prays in the direction of the Foundation Stone, those in America simply face east for example, while those in Jerusalem face directly toward it.
 

Philip

Donor
Judaism but as the OP mentioned, the "Rock" in center of the Dome of the Rock is called the Foundation Stone in Judaism and traditionally is claimed to have been the location of the holiest site of the Temple, the Holy of Holies.

I am well aware of all of this, which is why I think it is important to differentiate the Dome of the Rock from the rest.
 
To Christians, it has some significance as the site of the ancient temple, but the Church of the Holy Selpuchre (on the site of the crucifixion) is more important. I believe the Romans never rebuilt on the Temple Mount, even after adopting Christianity.
 
I am well aware of all of this, which is why I think it is important to differentiate the Dome of the Rock from the rest.

But isn't the Dome of the Rock holy in Islam because of the Rock it encloses which Muhammad used to ascend to heaven on the Night Journey? I don't know Islamic theology that well but is there a holiness inherent in the building seperate from the Rock? If a Muslim leader were to renovate it and make it a bigger and better Mosque, would that be opposed?
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
To Christians, it has some significance as the site of the ancient temple, but the Church of the Holy Selpuchre (on the site of the crucifixion) is more important. I believe the Romans never rebuilt on the Temple Mount, even after adopting Christianity.
Julian the Apostate tried to build the Jewish temple. But he was replaced by Christian emperors soon after. So that's just none.
I guess most Christians don't hold Temple mount that seriously though it is sacred or holy enough to be held as the place where God gave the first message to Abraham(believed to have). But Church of the Holy Seplechure is an explicit part of article of faith from where Jesus was crucified and died to resurrect and this is the principal focus for going to Heaven for Christians. Temple mount varies among Christians but Holy Seplechure usually overshadows.
 

Albert.Nik

Banned
But isn't the Dome of the Rock holy in Islam because of the Rock it encloses which Muhammad used to ascend to heaven on the Night Journey? I don't know Islamic theology that well but is there a holiness inherent in the building seperate from the Rock? If a Muslim leader were to renovate it and make it a bigger and better Mosque, would that be opposed?
Yes. I'm not a Muslim but I'm aware of these basic beliefs which I learnt out of interest. Ascent to Heaven is held very important for Islamic theology. Even in the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammed,Jerusalem was held sacred so much as they prayed towards it for some days AFAIK. So Isra and Miraj was a kind of Amalgamation of Judaism and Islam and Christianity as far as what I interpret through rational view.
 
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