The Dome of the Rock is built on the Temple Mount or Mount Moriah, the site of Abraham's almost sacrifice of Isaac, the site of Solomon's Temple and later Herod's Temple which was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD. The Dome of the Rock was erected between 685 and 691 CE. Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, who initiated construction of the Dome, hoped that it would “house the Muslims from cold and heat” and intended the building to serve as a shrine for pilgrims and not as a mosque for public worship. However, historians contend that the Caliph wished to create a structure which would compete with the existing buildings of other religions in the city.
Our tour guide noted that this is the 3rd holiest site for the Muslims because they believe this is where Mohammed ascended into heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. It is the holiest site for the Jews since this is where the Holy of Holies was, the dwelling of the Ark of the Covenant. The Jews do not walk on Temple Mount because they do not want to step on the place where God made His dwelling on Earth, the Holy of Holies.
Christians are allowed on Temple Mount through one entrance but are not allowed to go into the Mosque. The tension surrounding this site underscores the tension between these 3 major religions in this "City of Peace".
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