The Byzantine Empire eventually falls and Islam takes over Jerusalem. Islamic Jerusalem reigns from 638 CE until 1099, when the Crusaders retake Jerusalem.
The Sasanians take Jerusalem and Palestine in 628 CE. They allow the Jews to resettle (who've been exiled since the Bar-Kokhba Revolt in 135 CE). The Sasanians are the last of the pre-Islamic Persian Empire.
In 628, however, Byzantine Emperor Heraclius retakes Jerusalem from the Sasanians and massacre the Jews in Jerusalem. This is an example of the Byzantine Christians and not Arabs keeping the Jews out of Jerusalem.
Islam starts with the prophet Muhammad. Since he leaves no heir, there is some slight dissents about Caliphs should lead next. Abu Bakr follows and then Caliph Umar, Uthamn and then a division between Ali and Mu'awiya. Ali leads the sects that will eventually become the Shi'ites - kinship based Islam. Mu'awiya leads the sect that eventually becomes the Sunnis - tradition based Islam.
During this time, Jerusalem is still called the Aelia from the Romans. The Muslims then call it Bait Maqdis, or the City of the Holy House. It is then later shortened to al-Quds, or the Holy. The Temple Mount is renamed as well to become the Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary.
Some information about Islam
The Qibla is a direction of prayer
The Mihrab is the niche in the building that points to the direction of prayer
The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building in Mecca. It was a pagan shrine before Islam (another example of a sacred site retaining its holiness). All Muslims face towards the Kaaba during prayer.
The 5 Pillars of Islam consists of Shahada: testimony or witness, Salat: prayer, Zakat: almsgiving, Sawm: fasting during Ramadan, and the Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca. There is speculation that Jihad used to be on the list but was removed.
The Umayyad Dynasty reigns from 638 to 750 CE. They rule out of Damascus. Caliph Umar builds a wooden Mosque which later becomes the site for the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Abd al-Malik builds the Dome of the Rock in 691 CE to divert pilgrimage from Mecca to Jerusalem. Under their reign, there is tolerance of Christians and Jews in Jerusalem.
Dome of the Rock
It is an octagonal building with no graven images. Thus, there is intricate geometric design and calligraphy for decoration. The mosaic inscription around the interior and entrances of the Dome refute Christianity's view of Jesus; but the inscriptions confirm him as a prophet, just not a God. It was commissioned in 687 and built in 691 CE. Abd al-Malik hired Christian architects to build it and taxed Egypt for 7 years to raise the funds. They had extra funds left over and used this excess to plate the Dome in pure gold. The Dome of the Rock is later damaged by earthquakes and the plates of gold were removed to help pay to fix the Dome. In 1099, the Crusaders conquer Jerusalem and convert the Dome of the Rock into a Church. In 1187, Salah ad-Din retakes Jerusalem and restores the Dome. Stories and traditions of the Dome include the Night Journey, or the Miraj. It is said that Muhammad leapt to heaven upon a winged horse, al-Buraq from the Dome. He traveled from the mosque in Mecca to the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. This verse in the Qu'ran cements the importance of Jerusalem in the Islamic faith. Under the Dome of the Rock is also supposed to the Well of Souls or Axis to Hell.
Dome of the Chain
It is the geometric center of the Haram al-Sharif and is the place where the Final Judgment will occur. The tradition is that only true men can grab the chain. A false man will not be able to.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
It was built in 715 by Caliph Walid (son of Abd al-Malik). It is rumored to be built above the "Stables of Solomon" and is built above Caliph Umar's wooden mosque. It suffered earthquake damage in 1033 but was rebuilt. It said that prayer here is worth 500 prayers elsewhere.
The Abbasids ruled the Islamic Empire from 750 - 969 CE. They ruled out of Babylon, or modern day Baghdad. They tried to wipe out the memory of the Umayyads by claiming their accomplishments. An example of such was Caliph Al Ma-mun taking credit for the Dome of the Rock by changing the inscription to his name, but he forgot to change the date of construction. The Abbasids were less tolerant of Christianity. In fact, the Governor of Jerusalem killed John, the Christian Patriarch of Jerusalem in 965 CE.
The Abbasids were followed by the Fatamids who ruled from 969 CE to the time of the Crusaders in 1099 CE. They ruled out Egypt and were not Sunni Muslims like previous rulers, but Ishmaelis instead. During their reign, the population of Jerusalem increased, but it was a much more tumultuous time. Caliph al-Hakim destroys all the Jewish and Christian houses prayer, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and an earthquake damages the Dome of the Rock and Jerusalem's walls. From 1070-1098 CE, the Seljuqs occupy Jerusalem and loot and massacre by the thousands. In 1098, the Fatamids lay a 40 day siege on Jerusalem, ends up destroying the city's walls but retaking the city from the Turks.
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