Islamic Anti Christian Inscriptions on Dome of the Rock
God did not have a Son and Jesus was only a Messenger of God
The Arabic Islamic inscriptions on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem are perhaps among the most well known and well-studied inscriptions in the Western Literature. In this short article, we (e.g. the Authors) will present the inscriptions on the Dome of the Rock and their translation.
Inscriptions on the Inner Octagonal Arcade
- S In the name of God, the Merciful the Compassionate. There is no god but God. He is One. He has
- no associate. Unto him belongeth sovereignity and unto Him belongeth praise. He quickeneth and He giveth death; and He has
- Power over all things. Muḥammad is the servant of God and His Messenger.
- SE Lo! God and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet.
- O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. The blessing of God be on him and peace be
- on him, and may God have mercy. O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion
- E nor utter aught concerning God save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of
- Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit
- from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and say not ‘Three’ – Cease! (it is)
- NE better for you! God is only One God. Far be it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is
- in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And God is
- sufficient as Defender. The Messiah will never scorn to be a
- N servant unto God, nor will the favoured angels. Whoso scorneth
- His service and is proud, all such will He assemble unto Him.
- Oh God, bless Your Messenger and Your servant Jesus
- NW son of Mary. Peace be on him the day he was born, and the day he dies,
- and the day he shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary, (this is) a statement of
- the truth concerning which they doubt. It befitteth not (the Majesty of) God that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to him!
- W When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is.
- Lo! God is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the right path. God (Himself) is witness that there is no God
- save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness). Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no God save Him,
- SW the Almighty, the Wise. Lo! Religion with God (is) Islam. Those who (formerly) received the Book
- differed only after the knowledge came unto them, through transgression among themselves. Whoso
- disbelieveth the revelations of God (will find that) Lo! God is swift at reckoning!
Inscriptions on the Outer Octagonal Arcade
- S In the name of God, the Merciful the Compassionate. There is no god but God. He is One. He has no
- associate. Say: He is God, the One! God, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there
- is none comparable unto him. Muḥammad is the Messenger of God, the blessing of God be on him.
- SW In the name of God, the Merciful the Compassionate. There is no god but God.
- He is One. He has no associate. Muḥammad is the Messenger of God.
- Lo! God and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet.
- W O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a
- worthy salutation. In the name of God, the Merciful
- the Compassionate. There is no god but God. He is One. Praise be to
- NW God, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath
- no partner in Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend
- through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence. Muḥammad is the Messenger of
- N God, the blessing of God be on him and the angels and His prophets, and peace be
- on him, and may God have mercy. In the name of God, the Merciful
- the Compassionate. There is no god but God. He is One. He has no associate.
- NE Unto Him belongeth sovereignty and unto Him belongeth praise. He quickeneth. And He giveth death; and He has
- Power over all things. Muḥammad is the Messenger of God, the blessing of God be
- on him. May He accept his intercession on the Day of Judgment on behalf of his people.
- E In the name of God, the Merciful the Compassionate. There is no god but God. He is One.
- He has no associate. Muḥammad is the Messenger of God, the blessing of God be
- on him. The dome was built by servant of God ‘Abd
- SE [Allah the Imam al-Ma’mun, Commander] of the Faithful, in the year two and seventy. May God accept from him and be content
- with him. Amen, Lord of the worlds, praise be to God.
Source: S. Nuseibah & O. Grabar, The Dome of the Rock, 1996, Thames and Hudson: London (UK).