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asSakhrah

asSakhrah, also transliterated al-Sakhrah and meaning “the Rock” in Arabic, refers to the large limestone rock at the center of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. It sits beneath the Dome of the Rock, an octagonal shrine completed in 691–692 CE under the Umayyad Caliphate, which was built to enclose and honor the rock. The site is a prominent religious and architectural landmark within the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) complex.

In Islamic tradition, asSakhrah is revered as the site from which the Prophet Muhammad is believed to

Historically, the rock has been a central element of both religious narratives and urban development in Jerusalem.

have
ascended
to
heaven
during
the
Isra
and
Mi’raj.
The
Dome
of
the
Rock
shrine
surrounding
the
rock
is
one
of
the
earliest
and
most
significant
examples
of
Islamic
architecture,
and
the
site
has
been
a
focal
point
of
Muslim
reverence
for
centuries.
In
Jewish
tradition,
the
rock
is
identified
with
the
Foundation
Stone
(Even
ha-Shetiyah),
a
place
associated
with
the
beginnings
of
the
world
and
with
the
historical
Temples;
these
identifications
reflect
longstanding
religious
beliefs
linked
to
the
site.
The
Dome
of
the
Rock
and
the
encompassing
Haram
al-Sharif
form
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage-listed
component
of
The
Old
City
of
Jerusalem
and
its
Walls.
The
area
remains
a
sensitive
and
heavily
regulated
space,
attracting
pilgrims,
scholars,
and
visitors
while
being
the
subject
of
ongoing
political
and
religious
importance
and
debate.