SUBJECT

subject	Sacred Books and Places
topic	Al-Aqsa
grade	Four
time	30 minutes
objective	To enable students to understand the significance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
instructional material	Info Sheet 4d - Dome of the Rock Craft Project : Dome of the Rock puzzle.

INTRODUCTION

The Dome of the Rock, named MASJID AL-AQSA in Arabic, was the first Muslim masterpiece. It was built in 687 A.C. by Caliph Abd al-Malik, half a century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The rock marks the site from where Prophet Muhammad (s) made his Miraaj or Night Journey into the heavens and back to Makkah (Qur'an 17:1). The Dome of the Rock presents the first example of the Islamic world-view and is the symbol of the oneness and continuity of the Abrahamic religions i.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Travellers and pilgrims have compared the cupola to a mountain made up of supernatural light, or else to a sun when its gold glitters in the dazzling light of Palestinian mornings, noons, and dusks, with endless variations in the intensity of shades.

Under the rule of the Arabian caliphs, Palestine enjoyed four centuries of peace

and prosperity. Jerusalem (Al-Quds) was the holy city of the Muslims, Jews, and the Christians. After the death of Caliph 'Ali (fourth and last Caliph after Prophet Muhammed’s death), husband of Fatimah (Prophet Muhammed’s daughter), and son-in-law of the Prophet (s), it was in Jerusalem that the Arab leaders met in 660 to elect as their king, Mu'awiyah, the founder of the dynasty of the Umayyads. The Arab chroniclers report that his first act upon becoming king was to go and pray at Golgotha and then at Gethsemane. After the death of Mu'awiyah's son, Yazid (680-693), Caliph Abd al Malik had the mosque known as the Dome of the Rock built at Jerusalem as a symbol of the unity of the three Abrahamic religions: Jewish, Christian and Islamic. A careful "reading"

of the monument to grasp its inner spiritual meaning shows that it contains

the essence of the major themes in "Islamic art," whose fundamental purpose is to express the faith revealed in the Qur'an.

DEVELOPMENT

Let students read the Info sheet.

REINFORCING ACTIVITIES

Do craft project with students : Dome of the Rock puzzle.

INFO SHEET 4d - Dome of the Rock (MASJID AL-AQSA)

"Glory be to Him who did take His servant for a journey by night from the sacred

mosque to the farthest mosque whose precints We did bless, -in order that We might show him some of Our signs: for He is the One Who hears and sees all things.” (17:1)

The MIRAAJ, was a journey in which Prophet Muhammed was transported from the Sacred Mosque (of Mecca) to the Farthest Mosque (of Jerusalem) , and he was shown some of the Signs of God, all in one night.

The Dome of the Rock presents the first example of the Islamic world-view and is the symbol of the oneness and continuity of the Abrahamic religions i.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Travellers and pilgrims have compared the cupola to a mountain made up of supernatural light, or else to a sun when its gold glitters in the dazzling light of Palestinian mornings, noons, and dusks, with endless variations in the intensity of shades.

Under the rule of the Arabian caliphs, Palestine enjoyed four centuries of peace

and prosperity. Jerusalem (AL-QUDS) was the holy city of the Muslims, Jews, and the Christians. After the death of Caliph 'Ali (fourth and last Caliph after Prophet Muhammed’s death), husband of Fatimah (Prophet Muhammed’s daughter), it was in Jerusalem that the Arab leaders met in 660 to elect as their king, Mu'awiyah, the founder of the dynasty of the Umayyads. The Arab chroniclers report that his first act upon becoming king was to go and pray at Golgotha and then at Gethsemane. After the death of Mu'awiyah's son, Yazid (680-693), Caliph Abd al Malik had the mosque known as the Dome of the Rock built at Jerusalem as a symbol of the unity of the three Abrahamic religions: Jewish, Christian and Islamic. A careful "reading" of the monument to grasp its inner spiritual meaning shows that it contains the essence of the major themes in "Islamic art," whose fundamental purpose is to express the faith revealed in the Qur'an.

AL-AQSA mosque is the third holiest place in Islam, the second house of worship on Earth, and it was the first direction of prayer for Muslims (now the direction of prayer is towards the KAABA in Mecca). One prayer in AL-AQSA mosque is equivalent to 500 times the prayers in any other mosque except for the Haram Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's (AN-NABAWI) Mosque in Medina. In the journey to heaven, Prophet Muhammed(pbuh) prayed in AL-AQSA mosque, leading all the other Prophets. The

silver-domed mosque is 80 meters long and 55 meters wide. The mosque is built on

53 pure marble columns and has 7 alleys leading to 7 big doors. Inside the mosque there are 49 squared granite columns supporting its ceiling wooden beams. The mosque's sanctuary is built on quartz columns and its speech stand (mimbar)

of SALAH AL-DIN AL-AYYUBI, is decorated by ivory and ebony. The Dome of the Rock mosque is one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture. The mosque is built from marble and decorated by ceramic tiles and Quranic mosaic, giving traditional motifs and coherent colors. The mosque is octagonal in shape, having 8 sides. Each side has a door and 7 windows, with rock-crystal carving. The dome is made of gold. Right in the middle, the mosque hosts the honored rock on which the Prophet Muhammed(pbuh) stood on, before he was raised to heaven.

CRAFT PROJECT 4d - Dome of the Rock puzzle

1. Cut out a picture of the Dome of the Rock.

2. Glue your picture onto a piece of cardboard, making sure that there are no bubbles or crinkling in the paper, and that the corners are glued firmly - no dog ears!!

3. When the glue dries, cut the picture in 10 pieces, making jagged edges or curves.

Now you have a Dome of the Rock puzzle!!