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How did the Dome of the Rock express the importance of Islam in Jerusalem?
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ʿAbd al-Malik
The Dome of the Rock, built by ʿAbd al-Malik in the late 7th century ce, Jerusalem.
The Dome of the Rock, commissioned by the Umayyad caliph ‘Abd al-Malik in the late 7th century, served as a powerful statement of Islam’s status as the successor to the Abrahamic tradition. Its construction in Jerusalem expressed the importance of the faith through several key strategies:
- Rivalry with Christian Architecture: The structure’s grand scale and lavish ornamentation were likely intended to compete with the city’s prominent Christian holy sites, particularly the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.1
- Theological Assertions: The building features Arabic inscriptions containing Qur’ānic passages that emphasize the unity of God (tawhīd) while explicitly rejecting Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus.1
- Visual Identity: By utilizing Byzantine techniques but excluding human or animal figures in favor of vegetal patterns and script, the monument marked an early stage in the development of a distinct Islamic visual style.1