Qubbat as-Sakhra and Jerusalem’s golden octagon
Published on 09/24/2026 at 11:49 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Qubbat as-Sakhra rises from the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City as an octagonal shrine beneath a golden dome. Its geometry places the exposed Foundation Stone at the centre, while marble, mosaics, tiles and Arabic inscriptions cover the building around it.
Qubbat as-Sakhra: an octagon around the Foundation Stone
The shrine’s exterior follows an octagonal plan, with each side forming part of a carefully ordered arcade. A circular drum supports the central dome, and the surrounding passages frame the rock beneath it. The building is a shrine, not a congregational mosque, and its interior arrangement reflects that distinction.
The central rock is enclosed within the inner arcade. Visitors encounter columns, piers, patterned surfaces and bands of Arabic writing rather than a broad prayer hall organised around a qibla wall. The architectural focus remains the rock, whose presence gives the building its name and its visual centre.
Abd al-Malik and the late seventh-century shrine
Qubbat as-Sakhra belongs to the early Umayyad period. Its construction was commissioned by the caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, who ruled from 685 to 705 CE. The building was completed in 691–692 CE, a date recorded in its foundation inscription.
The shrine belongs to the earliest phase of monumental Islamic architecture. Its design draws on architectural forms associated with the Byzantine Mediterranean, while its inscriptions and religious programme belong to the developing visual language of Islam. The result is a building in which an octagonal plan, a domed centre and Arabic epigraphy operate together.
The inscription around the inner arcade is written in early Arabic script and includes passages from the Qur’an. Its words concern God, Jesus and Muhammad, placing the building within the religious debates and traditions of the late seventh century. The text is part of the architecture rather than a separate display.
Marble, mosaics and Ottoman tiles
Inside, marble surfaces meet glass mosaics with vegetal forms, jewels and crowns. Human and animal figures do not appear in the principal mosaic decoration. Gold-coloured tesserae give the inscriptions and ornament a luminous quality beneath the dome.
The exterior also records the building’s long history of repair and renewal. During the sixteenth century, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered major work on the shrine, including the replacement of exterior mosaic decoration with glazed ceramic tiles. Blue, turquoise, white and green patterns cover much of the outer surface.
The dome itself forms the dominant upper element. It rises above the circular drum and the layered arcades, giving the building a clear vertical centre within the broad elevated platform. The contrast between the golden roof, patterned walls and pale stone makes the shrine recognisable across Jerusalem’s historic landscape.
Visiting Qubbat as-Sakhra: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Qubbat as-Sakhra stands on the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City, on the elevated platform also known as the Temple Mount.
- The approach crosses a large open esplanade before reaching the shrine. Stone paving, steps and changes in level form part of the route across the platform.
- The official language is Hebrew and Arabic, and the currency is the Israeli new shekel.
- Qubbat as-Sakhra shares the wider sanctuary with Al-Aqsa Mosque and other historic structures, including arcades, gates and raised walkways.
Searching for Qubbat as-Sakhra on social platforms
These links open searches for Qubbat as-Sakhra on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Qubbat as-Sakhra
Where is Qubbat as-Sakhra?
Qubbat as-Sakhra stands on the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City. The shrine occupies the elevated platform associated with the Temple Mount.
What can visitors expect to see?
The building presents an octagonal exterior, patterned ceramic tiles, marble surfaces, mosaics, Arabic inscriptions and a central rock enclosed by arcades.
What makes Qubbat as-Sakhra distinctive?
Its golden dome rises above an octagonal shrine completed in 691–692 CE under Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. The Foundation Stone remains the building’s central architectural focus.
