Qubbat as-Sakhra, an octagonal shrine over the rock
Published on 08/14/2026 at 14:33 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Qubbat as-Sakhra, known in English as the Dome of the Rock, is an octagonal Islamic shrine on the Haram al-Sharif in the Old City of Jerusalem, built under the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik in the late seventh century.octagonal Islamic shrine It rises above the exposed Foundation Stone, enclosed by arcades, columns and richly decorated walls.
An early masterpiece of Islamic architecture
Qubbat as-Sakhra is widely recognised as the oldest surviving major monument of Islamic architecture, completed around 691–692 CE when Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ruled the Umayyad Caliphate.oldest extant Islamic monument The building stands on an elevated platform near the centre of the Temple Mount, sharing the esplanade with the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other structures.Haram al-Sharif location
The shrine’s plan is organised around the rock itself, which sits at the heart of a circular arcade, ringed by an octagonal outer shell with arcades and ambulatories. The layout draws on late antique and Byzantine models, yet the inscriptions and overall programme announce Islam in a distinct visual language.Byzantine-rooted structure and ornament
The gilded dome and its mosaic skin
Above the rock rises the double-shell dome, framed externally by a drum and a ring of windows and clad in gilded metal that catches the light over Jerusalem.timber double-shell dome Below, the octagonal walls are lined with coloured marble panels and, on the exterior, ceramic tiles that give Qubbat as-Sakhra its distinctive patterned skin.
Inside, the decoration combines marble revetments, glass mosaics and inscriptions in early Kufic script. A long mosaic band runs around the arcades, carrying Quranic verses and dedicatory text from the time of Abd al-Malik, preserving some of the earliest monumental Islamic inscriptions anywhere.early Quranic inscription band The use of vegetal motifs, crowns and jewellery forms echoes Byzantine church mosaics while reshaping them for an Islamic shrine.
The Foundation Stone and layered sacred traditions
The central rock, al-Sakhra, is an exposed outcrop associated with several strands of religious tradition. In Islamic belief it is linked with the Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey and ascent through the heavens, making the shrine a focus of devotion and pilgrimage.Night Journey association In Jewish tradition the same rock has long been identified with the site of Abraham’s near-sacrifice and with the location of the ancient Temple.
Qubbat as-Sakhra is therefore a building where architecture and sacred topography are inseparable: the shrine shelters the rock, and the rock gives the building its meaning. The structure is not a congregational mosque with a broad prayer hall and minbar; it is a mashhad, a shrine raised over a fixed point that already carried significance within earlier religious landscapes.shrine rather than mosque
Visiting Qubbat as-Sakhra: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Qubbat as-Sakhra stands on the Haram al-Sharif in the Old City of Jerusalem, east of the traditional market streets and close to several of the historical city gates.
- The platform on which the shrine rises is reached by stairways from the surrounding courtyards, and movement around the building involves walking on stone paving and climbing sets of steps.
- The shrine lies within a wider religious precinct that also includes Al-Aqsa Mosque and other structures; visitors encounter open courtyards, arcades and changes in level across the esplanade.
- The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Israeli 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.
Searching for Qubbat as-Sakhra on social platforms
These links open searches for Qubbat as-Sakhra on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Qubbat as-Sakhra
Where is Qubbat as-Sakhra located?
Qubbat as-Sakhra stands on the Haram al-Sharif, the historical Temple Mount plateau in the Old City of Jerusalem, within the wider Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
What should visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors encounter a gilded-domed shrine above an exposed rock, surrounded by stone courtyards, arcades and stairways, with views over the historic roofs and streets of Jerusalem.
What makes Qubbat as-Sakhra distinctive among sacred sites?
Its combination of an early Umayyad date, octagonal plan, extensive mosaic inscriptions and its position directly over the Foundation Stone gives Qubbat as-Sakhra a distinctive character among Islamic and regional sacred buildings.
