now come the muslims!

Islamic Jerusalem

Byzantine era ends

Sasanians (from Iran) take Palestine and Jerusalem (614-628 CE)

This is the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire (in east)

They are one of the two main powers in western Asia and Europe

The other power is the Romans (in west)

In 614 CE, the Jewish people were allowed to resettle in Jerusalem

In 628 CE, Heraclius retakes Jerusalem and allows massacres of the Jews

After Muhammad:

There is great reverence shown towards the Prophet Muhammad 

“Peace and blessing be upon him” -phrase said by Muslims

There are no graven images or pictures of the Prophet

He leaves no heir after he receives his revelation

Qur'an is direct copy of the revelation

Caliphs lead the community

Abu Bakr rules (closest friend of Muhammad)

Then Umar rules as second Caliph, and after that is the third Caliph, Uthman

After Uthman, there is division of succession between Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law) and Mu’awiya (Uthman’s cousin)

Sectarian Division within Islam:

-Supporters of Ali- based on kinship (become Shi’ites)

-Supporters of Mu’awiya- based on tradition and community (become Sunni)

Second caliph, Caliph Umar takes Jerusalem in 638 CE

Known as Umar the Great, he is a very powerful ruler

He doesn’t allow Jewish settlement

Later allowed the Jews to move back into the city

Christians were actually the ones keeping the Jews out

Islamic terms for Jerusalem:

Muslims retain the term Aelia

Then became Bait Maqdis “the holy house”, then al-Quds “the holy”

Haram al-Sharif “the noble sanctuary” is the new term for the Temple Mount

Jerusalem in Islam:

Qibla- direction of prayer (Muhammad had revelation to pray toward Mecca… before, people prayed toward Jerusalem)

Mihrab- niche indicates the direction of prayer

Kaaba- most sacred focal site in the city of Mecca, large stone box (used to be filled with idols)

Most holy cities to Islam: 1. Mecca 2. Medina 3. Jerusalem

Islam = Christianity + Judaism

Five pillars of Islam:

1. Shahada- there is no God but God, and Muhammad is his prophet
2. Shalat- pray 5 times a day, theres always someone praying around the world
3. Zakat- giving of alms to the needy
4. Sawm- fasting in the month of Ramadan, when the Qur'an was first revealed
5. Hajj- making a pilgrimage to Mecca

In Jerusalem, when a muslim goes on a Hajj, they paint their door to let everyone know they’re gone

This keeps people from stealing because it’s triple sin to steal from someone while they’re on Hajj

Umayyad Jerusalem (638-750 CE):

Centered in Damascus

Caliph Umar- wanted to provide an alternative site for Hajj, so he builds a wooden mosque

Abd al-Malik- builds Dome of the Rock in 691 CE (alternative site to keep people around since Mecca was expensive to travel to)

Jerusalem’s prominence vs. Mecca (much more tolerant place)

-Al-Aqsa Mosque, great palaces, new Ramla, tolerance of all religions, continuing pilgrimage tradition

Haram al-Sharif “Noble Sanctuary”:

Islam palaces and administrative centers built by southwestern corner (Ophel)

Built during reign of Caliph Walid (705-715 CE)

Built over old, destroyed buildings from Byzantine era

Had fresh water and beautiful architecture

Never fully completed, still used until the Abbasid period 

Dome of the Rock:

Only allowed for entrance of Muslims

it is an octagonal building with gold dome, supported by pillars

Decorations don’t have any pictures because graven images were banned

Instead, lots of geometric designs and calligraphy

"Mosque of Omar" was original name

Became a very important shrine early on

Commissioned in 687 CE, finished in 691 CE

Taxed Egypt in order to pay for it

Christian architects built the shrine, hence reason for imitation of Anastasis in Holy Sepulcher

They finished under budget and actually returned money (extra money went to gold plating)

Christian Byzantine Martyria- intended to outshine Christian monuments

Mosaic inscription of Qur'an, says Jesus is only Messiah, not God. No trinity either

Many traditions linked to it that combine Jewish and Christian beliefs

1099 CE- Crusaders conquer Jerusalem and convert it into a church

1187 CE- Saladin reconquers Jerusalem and restores it

Abd al-Malik: 

Improved road network to and from Jerusalem

Restored the Haram al-Sharif

Built a lot of walls and gates

Also built the Dome of the Chain 

-place of judgment

-only honest person will prevail

-geometric center of the Temple Mount

-seen as an axis mundi

Qur'an 17:1

Winged horse with head of a human (Al-Buraq)

Protectors of divine realm, magical beast

Muhammad get on horse and goes to the farthest mosque in Jerusalem (the al-Aqsa Mosque)

Al-Aqsa Mosque “Farthest Mosque”:

Built between 705-715 CE

Southern end has huge bulge because it’s giving way

Fighting over who gets to fix the wall

Historical significance: Abdullah was shot there

Only Muslims allowed in, racial profiling occurring 

No graven images depicted

Completely rebuilt after earthquake in 1033 CE

Prayer made at this mosque is worth 500 prayers

Prayer in Medina = 1,000 prayers

Prayer in Mecca = 100,000 prayers

km.