During the time period it was built, Islamic faith was greatly concerned with showing prestige compared to other religions. Muslims had obtained power while the Dome of the Rock was being built and this building is a physical representation of their power. Muslims found ways to represent religious concepts through the architecture of the building. The dome's circular shape is representing the fullness and peace of Islamic tradition ("About The Dome of the Rock"). "The Dome of the Rock encircles the holy rock, according to tradition beneath the ancient stone, there is Bir el-arneh, (the well of souls). The voices of the dead may be heard" ("Jerusalem"). The Bir el-arneh is seen to be significant because it became a way that people believe to be talking to the dead.
Judaism also believes that the Dome of The Rock is built upon a sacred site. The Dome of the Rock is located on Mount Moriah, which is accepted to be where Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God ("About The Dome of the Rock"). This is a place where ancestral Jews have proved their trust in God and is an example of the willingness to obey God, which makes the location extremely sacred. This location has become symbolic of the essential core values of Judaism, creating a holy connection (Hayes). The mountain is now referred to as Temple Mount but has been accepted as a new name for Mount Moriah. Temple Mount is also the same point where the First and Second Temples were built; obviously, the Dome of the Rock resides there currently, but there is a history of sacred Jewish buildings located at the same site. Temple Mount is not only home to the Dome of the Rock, but holds multiple other religiously historical places. Some of them date back to when the Second Temple was built. Parts of the Second Temples' walls have been preserved upon Temple Mount. The golden portion of the dome is important to Jews because the way the dome rises above the old city's walls is seen as symbolic of how Judaism has been an enduring faith (Hayes).
