The Dome of the Rock and the Masdijul Aqsa Mosques are located on the Noble Sanctuary in Jerusalem's Old City.  They are built on the site where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed (Praises and Blessings Upon Him) ascended to heaven, making this one of the most important shrines in the Islamic faith along with Mecca and Medina.  The Dome of the Rock was constructed sometime near 660CE, and most the mosaics on the inside are still surviving today.  The interior of the Dome is absolutely breathtaking, but no photography was allowed so I have only images of the beautiful exterior.  The outside is also mosaic, restored several times since the Dome's construction.  The current famous golden dome was recently restored for the year 2000, and it is beautiful.

 

You'll notice in the first photo the showers built into the plaza for Muslims who wash before praying at the mosque.  Unfortunately, in today's violent climate, most Muslims are not permitted to pray here.  The Israelis routinely only allow Jerusalem residents (not other Palestinians from the West Bank) over the age of 40 to attend services at this holy shrine.  No one else is allowed to enter.  Many Muslims consider this control over their holy shrine to be an outrage.

 

The rock over which the Dome is built is also called the "Foundation Stone" by Jews, as they believe it to be the spot on which the First and Second Temples were built.  The Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sherif) or Temple Mount is one of the most highly disputed sites in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  Regardless of the political situation, this place is absolutely beautiful.  On to the photos!