Israel: Jerusalem – Temple Mount aka Haram al-Sharif
Temple Mount (known as Haram al-Sharif or “the Noble Sanctuary” by Muslims) is one of the holiest and most sacred sites in the world in both Judaism and Islam (the holiest in Judaism and third holiest in Islam). Jews believe that the world was created (and will end) here, while Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven from here. The roughly rectangular flat plaza stands on stone retaining walls built by King Herod in the 1st century BC. Temple Mount is where the First and Second Jewish Temples stood until destroyed by the Romans in the 1st century AD. With the arrival of Islam in 692 AD with the Umayyad Caliphate, a mosque was built here, becoming the third most sacred mosque (and one of the oldest) in Islam – the Dome of the Rock (built in 705 AD) and the praying halls of the Al-Aqsa Mosque (built in 715 AD). Its appearance changed a lot during the ages and under Ottoman – gaining a golden roof and many Ottoman architectural elements. The site has been, is, and likely will remain one of the most hotly contested and disputed sites the world, politically and religiously. After Israel took control then Old Jerusalem, the Temple Mount has been the spark of nearly all uprisings and fighting. The entire site is used for Muslim prayers and non-Muslim visits are restricted to only 4 hours per day, 4 days a week, with only one of the 11 gates accelerated to non Muslims (long lines and a lot of security check with frequent closures and cancellations).
