Qubbat as-Sakhra and the golden dome over Jerusalem’s rock
Published on 08/29/2026 at 06:35 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Qubbat as-Sakhra, known in English as the Dome of the Rock, is an Islamic shrine with an octagonal plan on the Haram al-Sharif in the Old City of Jerusalem. Its gilded dome rising above patterned stone and tile has become a fixed point in the city’s skyline and one of the most recognisable outlines on the historic plateau.
An octagonal shrine over the Foundation Stone
Qubbat as-Sakhra stands near the centre of the elevated Haram al-Sharif, the historic Temple Mount plateau that carries a complex of mosques, madrasas and open courtyards.Haram al-Sharif plateau The building itself is not a mosque but a shrine, built to shelter and frame a single exposed outcrop of bedrock known as the Foundation Stone.Foundation Stone within the shrine
The plan is organised around that rock in the centre. Concentric zones surround it: first an inner ring of columns and arcades, then outer aisles that follow the octagonal perimeter. The interior surfaces carry rich inscriptions and ornament in materials that include stone, mosaic and faience, drawing the visitor’s attention back towards the bedrock in the middle of the space.
Umayyad origins and early Islamic architecture
The shrine belongs to the early Umayyad period and was completed in the late seventh century under the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan A commonly cited completion date is 691–692 CE, making Qubbat as-Sakhra one of the oldest surviving major monuments of Islamic architecture.completion in 691 CE It stands alongside nearby Christian buildings such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as part of a dense cluster of religious structures that reflect Jerusalem’s layered history.
The building’s architectural language combines an octagonal outer form with a prominent dome and extensive inscriptions. The proportions and the treatment of the outer walls mark Qubbat as-Sakhra out as a significant statement of early Islamic patronage, and inscriptions inside the building contain some of the earliest epigraphic declarations associated with Islam and the prophet Muhammad.early Islamic inscriptions
Rock, stories and the gilded dome above Jerusalem
The exposed rock at the heart of Qubbat as-Sakhra is tied to several strands of religious tradition. In Islamic belief the site is associated with the night journey and ascension of the prophet Muhammad, known as Isra and Mi?raj.Isra and Mi?raj association Jewish and Christian traditions link the same rock with the place where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, and with the location of earlier temples on the Mount.rock in Abrahamic traditions
From outside, the shrine is defined by its dome and by the patterned surfaces of its octagonal drum and base. The dome’s gilded cladding and the blue-toned tile mosaics on the outer walls give Qubbat as-Sakhra a strong visual presence across the Old City, standing above the surrounding stone pavements and colonnades of the Haram al-Sharif.gilded dome and blue tile Viewed from many points around Jerusalem, the dome appears above roofs, alleys and distant hills, marking the raised platform of the Temple Mount.
Visiting Qubbat as-Sakhra: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Qubbat as-Sakhra stands on the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City and is reached on foot through the surrounding streets, climbing onto the elevated stone platform from nearby gates.
- The shrine rises on a paved esplanade and the approach involves walking on stone surfaces and using stairways between the surrounding courtyards and the higher platform on which the building stands.
- The wider complex includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other religious structures, so the area has a concentrated religious character and views across the historic fabric of Jerusalem from the raised level.
- The official language is Hebrew and the currency is the Israeli new shekel.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Qubbat as-Sakhra
Where is Qubbat as-Sakhra located in Jerusalem?
Qubbat as-Sakhra stands on the Haram al-Sharif, the historic Temple Mount plateau in the south-eastern part of Jerusalem’s Old City, above the surrounding streets and courtyards.
What should visitors expect when they approach the shrine?
Visitors encounter a raised stone platform with stairways, colonnades and open courtyards, with the octagonal shrine and its gilded dome rising above the paving and nearby religious buildings.
What makes Qubbat as-Sakhra distinctive among Jerusalem’s religious sites?
Its combination of an early Umayyad date, an octagonal plan around the exposed Foundation Stone and a gilded dome with blue-tiled outer walls gives Qubbat as-Sakhra a distinct character among the monuments on the Temple Mount.
