Dome of the Rock - one of the most famous of the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem. Glory obliged mosque and beautiful name, and its remarkable history, and to the fact that tourists often confuse it with the Dome of the Rock.

From the Temple Mount, where the Dome of the Rock shines, the Mosque of Omar is quite far. It stands directly opposite the Holy Sepulchre, it in terms of fifteen square minaret is clearly visible from the courtyard of the Temple.

Owes its name to the great Muslim mosque Warmaster and statesman, the Caliph Omar (Umar) ibn-Khattab ABN.

The son of a merchant, a lover of poetry, an expert martial artist, a great speaker, Omar initially did not accept the preaching of Islam and even threatened to kill the Prophet Muhammad. At the age of 27 years, however, he believed, and was one of the closest companions of the Prophet. Decisive, strong physically, had an extraordinary charisma, he has played an important role in the battles that accompanied the establishment of the first Islamic state. After the death of Muhammad in 632, Omar was the closest adviser to the caliph Abu Bakr, and two years later, after the death of the Caliph, became his successor.

Under the leadership of prominent reformist Islamic Caliphate expanded at an unprecedented pace. In 637 Muslim armies were in the vicinity of the Byzantine Jerusalem. Patriarch Sophronius agreed to surrender the city on the condition that it will take the keys to the Caliph himself. Tradition says that one of the most powerful people in the world set off from Medina to Jerusalem, accompanied by a servant, riding on a donkey, and a simple cloak.

Patriarch personally spent the Caliph of the city and asked him to pray in the Holy Sepulchre, but Omar refused. Khalifa explained that if he accepts the invitation Sophronia, followed him into the temple to pray will come thousands of Muslims and Christians will lose their holy places. Legend has it that the caliph threw a stone and began to pray at the site of its fall. It is here, and is currently the Mosque of Omar.

The building of the mosque was built after four and a half centuries after these events, in 1193, under Sultan Al-Afdale (son of the famous warrior Saladin). Minaret appeared later in 1465. In the XIX century in the Ottoman era mosque was capitally renovated.

It contains a copy of the contract of Omar, which gave security guarantees to non-Muslim population of Jerusalem. However, not every tourist will be able to get acquainted with the unique document: go to the mosque only Muslims have the right to - to pray.