Sacred Architecture of the Rock : An Innovative Design Concept and Iconography in Al-Aqsa Mosque

Muallak Taşı’nın Kutsal Mimarisi: Mescid-i Aksa’da Yenilikçi Tasarım Konsepti ve İkonografi

Abstract

The religious sanctity and symbolisms of the Sacred Rock in Islam hasbeen a frame of reference for inspiration of the architect who establisheda building over it in the early Islamic period. His challenging task was togenerate an architectural archetype based on idea and concept in architecturevivid with sacredness and reflecting the religious symbolism of theplace. Nowhere can this be true as Qubbet al-Sakhrah (the Dome of theRock); an Islamic masterpiece which is considered to be the utmostachievement of the Umayyad Islamic religious art and architecture in thelate seventh century C.E. It is evident that the architect of the Sacred Rockwas very successful in dealing with the site when establishing an attractablemature building that is dominating the skyline of the al-Aqsa mosqueand the city of Islamicjerusalem alike. In addition to the Umayyad religiousobjective in establishing this sacred building, another important goalwas achieved which reinforced their political power and Islamic sovereigntyover the city. Indeed, Qubbet al-Sakhrah is a memorable buildingthat commemorates the Sacred Rock and is full of religious feelings. Ithas, visually, strong impact on observers as its form and function recallsboth of the archetype of Makkah and Islamicjerusalem and their religiousexperience.

Özet

Kudüs şehri M.S 637’de Müslümanların yönetimine geçti. Müslümanlarınşehre ilgisi, üzerine Mescid-i Aksa’nın inşa edildiği Muallak Taşı’na verilenönemden .türü daha erken dönemlere dayanmaktadır. Beytülmakdis bölgesinin,temelde, ilk kutsal mescidin sonrasında inşa edilen ikinci mescidinbulunduğu yer olduğuna inanılmaktadır. Ayrıca, Hz. Muhammed’in miracayükseldiği (İsra) ve diğer peygamberlere namaz kıldırdığı yer olarak daalan önem kazanır. Müslümanlar nezdindeki bu saygın konumu, Halife Hz.Ömer’i şehri almaya ve bu kutsal bölgenin İslami kimliğini görünür kılmakiçin bir mihrap (niş) yapmaya sevk etmiştir.