What purpose did the Dome of the Rock originally serve in Jerusalem?

The original purpose and significance of the Dome of the Rock remain a subject of historical uncertainty due to a lack of contemporary commentary from the time of its construction in the late 7th century.1

Because its architectural design—featuring an ambulatory configuration—is not suited for Muslim congregational prayer, it does not function as a traditional mosque. Instead, scholars have proposed several theories regarding its original intent:1

• Asserting Islamic Identity: Its grand scale and lavish decoration may have been intended to rival the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and position Islam as the successor to the Abrahamic tradition. Its inscriptions emphasize the unity of God and reject Christian doctrines like the Trinity.1
• Martyrium: The structure resembles a Byzantine martyrium, a type of shrine built to commemorate a site of special religious significance.1
• Eschatological Motives: Some scholars argue the design and motifs were intended to reflect beliefs regarding Judgment Day and heaven.1

While later Abbasid-era accounts suggested it was built as a substitute for the Kaaba, modern historians often view this as biased historiography.1