Foundation Stone Cave inside the Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem
Introduction
The Foundation Stone lies underneath the Dome of the Rock structure in Jerusalem. It is one of the most sacred parts of the Temple Mount. Below the stone, there is a small cave and a small arch like entrance provides access to a small cave inside. Top of the Rock is open towards the dome but it’s sides are protected by a glass case. In Arabic this rock is called al-Sakhra but it is also known as the Well of Souls (Bir el- Arwah in Arabic). Other names are Pit of Souls and Cave of Spirits.
The rock has several human-made cuts in its surface; these are generally attributed to the Crusaders. They placed a slab over the rock which was removed by Saladin when he conquered Jerusalem in 1187. A mehrab inside the Well of Souls dates back to the late 9th century. The cave chamber is roughly square, about 6 meters on a side, and ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 meters.
Religious Significance
It is believed that at this place the spirits of the dead are waiting for the Judgement Day. According to the Muslim tradition, Holy Prophet placed his foot on top of this rock when he ascended to heaven on his night journey. In Jewish belif that above this rock was the location of the Holy of the Holies which existed during the period of the Second Temple.
This rock is also the place where prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) sacrificed his son Ismael but according to the Jewish belief, it was Isaac not Ismael.
