Dome of the Rock
Built in the 7th century and located in the heart of Jerusalem (“al-Quds,” Arabic for “the Holy”), the Dome of the Rock is an architectural marvel of Muslim civilization. Its magnificent golden dome, shimmering in the sunlight, represents a beacon of faith and a testament to the spiritual legacy of Islam in the Arab world. Situated on the Temple Mount just southeast of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the site houses the rock from where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven for the Night Journey. It is considered one of the holiest in Islam and exemplifies a unique blend of Byzantine and Islamic artistry, with elements of Persian and Central Asian influences in its glazed tiles and floral motifs.
The iconic dome, a distinctive characteristic of Islamic architecture adopted from the churches of the time, is decorated with geometric patterns that represent the order and unity of the universe in Islamic belief. This is consistent with the octagonal shape of the mosque, which contributes to the harmony and symmetry of the structure and is thought to allude to heaven; a theme that is furthered by the use of arches symbolizing the gateway to paradise and the connection between the earthly realm and the divine. The arches also serve a practical purpose and are an example of Islamic innovation in engineering that allows for the creation of large, open prayer halls to accommodate more worshippers without additional columns. Other prominent features include the intricate mosaic designs and rich colors of the stained glass, typical of Byzantine architecture and woven with calligraphy inscriptions of Qur'anic verses, seamlessly meshing together both styles in a visual masterpiece.
Beyond its architectural and historical significance as a focal point for all of the Abrahamic religions, Jerusalem is a sacred city deeply intertwined with the identity of the Palestinian people. Today, the Dome of the Rock stands as a symbol of resilience and resistance, reminding Palestinians of their heritage and reminding the world of the hope that tomorrow brings.
Abdul Rahim Al-Qammoudi | عبد الرحيم القمودي
Born in 1969, the Libyan poet Abdul Rahim Hassan Suleiman Al-Qammoudi of the Qamamda tribe is known for his poetry of resistance. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Language and Islamic Studies and his Master’s degree in Literary Studies from the Department of Arabic Language at Zawia University.
His first writing was about Palestine when he was in his second year of university. He wrote the poem “Palestine is My Soul” after the Stone Intifada in 1987. He also wrote several poems after the events in Libya, including the poem “I Scream.” His collection of poems, entitled “Hurricanes of Anger,” was published by the Palestine Foundation for Culture. The Palestinian Curriculum Committee chose a poem of his entitled “Palestine is My Soul” to be taught to seventh-grade students in occupied Palestine.
Palestine is my Soul | فلسطين روحي
فلسطين روحي وريحانتي
فلسطين يا جنة المنعم
Palestine is my soul and my comfort
Palestine, O paradise of blessings
ما آن للظلم أن ينجلي
ويجلو الظلام عن المسلم
Has not the time come for injustice to be vanquished?
And for darkness to be lifted from the Muslim
ونحيا بعز على أرضنا
ونبني منارًا إلى الأنجم
For us to live with dignity on our land
And build a gateway to the stars
ويلتم شمل الصحاب على
دروب الجهاد وبذل الدم
For comrades to be reunited
On the path of struggle and blood
فلا نَصْر إلا بقرآنـنا
ولا عون إلا من المسلم
For there is no victory except with our Qur’an
And there is no help except from a Muslim
فلا الغرب يُرجى لنا نفعه
ولسنا بقواته نحتمي
For neither the West hopes to benefit us
Nor do we take refuge in its strength
ولا الشرق يعطي لنا فضلة
أيرجى العطاء من المعدم!؟
Nor does the East do us any favors
And would you ask generosity of the destitute?!
ولا حق يعطى بغير الرصاص
ولا خزي يمحى بغير الدم
And justice is not granted without bullets
And shame cannot be erased but with blood
متى تشرق الشمس فوق الدنا
ويجرى الضياء على النوّم !؟
When will the sun rise over the sky?
And spread its light upon the sleepers?!
فما عاش في القدس من خانها
ولا حظ فيــها لمستسلم
For no one can live in Jerusalem who betrays her
And there is no fortune there for one who surrenders
تعلق قلبــي بأطلالها
فصـارت نشيدًا على مبسم
My heart is bound to her ruins
So she became a hymn on my lips
تنشقت ريح الهوى من شذاها
فأزهر في القلــب كالبرعم
I inhaled the smell of passion from her scent
And it blossomed in my heart like a bud
ترابك كالتبـــر في أرضه
وماؤك أحلى من الزمـزم
Your soil is like gold in its source
Your water is sweeter than zamzam (water from a stream in Mecca)
وإني بشــوق إلى مرجها
ومسرى الحبيب أبي القاسم
And I long for her meadows
And the path of the beloved Abul Qasim (Prophet Muhammad)
وبيسان واللد في خافقي
وعكا وحيفا ويافا دمي
And Besan and Al-Lid are in my heartbeats
And Acre, Haifa, and Jaffa are my blood
وإني لأشكو إليك الهوى
بحـبك يا غزة الهاشم
And I complain to you of my passion
I love you, O Gaza of Hashem (the tribe of the Prophet)
سقى الله أرضًا على شطها
يـثور الرضيع ولم يفطم
God watered the land on its banks
The infant revolts before he is weaned
فمهما توالت عليها خطوب
مدى الدهر تبق هوى المسلم
For no matter how many calamities she has seen
For eternity, she remains a flame in the heart of every Muslim
