Two Holy Places for the Muslim Communities
Al-Masjid al-Haram and The Dome of the Rock
Two Holy Places for the Muslim Communities
Thesis
Today many cultures have a lot of significant locations and buildings that many people consider sacred. For the United States “Ground Zero” or the 9/11 Memorial will always be considered a sacred place to Americans. This location tells a story of a tragic, yet significant event in our history that will never be forgotten. This location is a reminder of the reason why we have to come together as a nation and why we are in the conflict that we are in as we speak. Throughout the world there are many other places that have a similar story to tell. Muslims take their religion very serious and have a strict doctrine to abide by. Not only do they take their acts of faith serious, they also take their places of worship serious and treat them in such the same manner. They keep these sacred places held high in their hearts.
Introduction
Throughout the course there has been a journey throughout Islam history and to many different places that were significant for many reasons. There were two places in general that stuck out to me, and really grasped my interest. I have taken quite an attachment to these places from a learning aspect, and they are the Al-Masjid al- Haram and the Dome of the Rock. These architectural designs are very significant to the Islamic society and within them is a lot of history around them. Throughout this paper I will give more insight on the history of these locations, how they were constructed, what religious significance they hold and what role they play in the 21st century.
History/ Construction
The Al-Masjid al-Haram was originally built by the leader we know as Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khatteb between 634-644. The current location of the Mosque is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and is the primary destination of the Hajj pilgrimage The construction began as a very simple design of a covered prayer area that was held together by wooden
Two Holy Places for the Muslim Communities
Thesis
Today many cultures have a lot of significant locations and buildings that many people consider sacred. For the United States “Ground Zero” or the 9/11 Memorial will always be considered a sacred place to Americans. This location tells a story of a tragic, yet significant event in our history that will never be forgotten. This location is a reminder of the reason why we have to come together as a nation and why we are in the conflict that we are in as we speak. Throughout the world there are many other places that have a similar story to tell. Muslims take their religion very serious and have a strict doctrine to abide by. Not only do they take their acts of faith serious, they also take their places of worship serious and treat them in such the same manner. They keep these sacred places held high in their hearts.
Introduction
Throughout the course there has been a journey throughout Islam history and to many different places that were significant for many reasons. There were two places in general that stuck out to me, and really grasped my interest. I have taken quite an attachment to these places from a learning aspect, and they are the Al-Masjid al- Haram and the Dome of the Rock. These architectural designs are very significant to the Islamic society and within them is a lot of history around them. Throughout this paper I will give more insight on the history of these locations, how they were constructed, what religious significance they hold and what role they play in the 21st century.
History/ Construction
The Al-Masjid al-Haram was originally built by the leader we know as Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khatteb between 634-644. The current location of the Mosque is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and is the primary destination of the Hajj pilgrimage The construction began as a very simple design of a covered prayer area that was held together by wooden
References: Al- Masjid al-Haram. ArchNet. Retrieved on 27 Feb 2013 from: http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=8803 Al-Masjid al-Haram, Mecca. Sacred Destinations retrieved on 27 Feb 2013 from: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/mecca-haram-mosque Dome of the rock. Retrieved on 27 Feb 2013 from: http://www.domeoftherock.net Brown, D. (2009). A new introduction to Islam (2nd ed.). West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons. Esposito, J. (2011). What everyone needs to know about Islam (2nd ed.). Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press.