Abraham Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs)
Called Al-Haram al-Ibrahimi or Haram al-Kalil in Arabic, Abraham Mosque is known as the place of Cave of the Patriarchs.
Abraham is the common Hebrew patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is believed that Abraham, his wife Sarah, his son Isaac, Isaac’s wife Rebecca, Isaac’s son Jacob, Jacob’s wife Leah, and Jacob’s son Joseph are buried.
Jacob has later given the name Israel; he is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites.
That is to say, the place is a sanctuary also for Judaism, even if it’s in Palestine. After the Six-Day War in 1967, the mosque was split into two parties. And since then, half of it has been occupied by Israel.
The Palestinian are not allowed to enter the occupied part.
History of Abraham Mosque
c.18th century BC
There are various opinions regarding the era.
This place first appeared in the Old Testament; While Abraham was looking for a place as home, he bought some land from a native to bury his wife, Sarah.
He said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron son of Zohar, so that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as a possession for a burying place.”
The book of Genesis chapter 23 8-9
Afterward, his son Isaac and Isaac’s son Jacob also heritated this place with a testament to close their eyes for the last time.
c.1st century BC
During the era of Herod the Great, a building was constructed as a sacred place.
4th century
Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, visited the place. She ordered a renovation of the building and made the east party a Christian church.
7th century
The building turned into an Islamic mosque under Islamic power.
1099
The Crusades conquered Palestine, and the building turned again into a Christian church. It is said that the stained glasses on the top of the entrance were made in the 12th century during the Crusades era.
The Crusades excavated a cave and bones and were convinced it was the tombs of Prophets. Afterward, this site started to be considered an important sacred place.
1187
The Islam Ayyubids retook the land from the Crusades, and the building turned again into a mosque. They added four towers; only two remain now.
Middle ages
During the middle ages, Islam fully renovated the building of W59m x L34m x H18m, as we can see now.
1967
After the Six-Day War, Israel “released” some parts of Hebron and renovated some parts of the mosque into a Jewish synagogue.
Muslim part
In front of the entrance of the mosque, there is a security check to pass yourself and your belongings.
After passing the security check, you go up the stairs to the entrance. The stones of the facade of the entrance are so big (7.5m x 1.4m) that you can imagine the ancient work.
If you are a woman, you’ll need to borrow a robe to hide your heir at the entrance. I, the author, visited the place with a Palestinian man, and he suggested I donate some tips about 5 NIS when I return the robe.
There are two musallas; you have to take your shoes off to the inmost mosque. An electric bulletin board shows the direction of Mecca and world times.
Do not miss the brilliant 11th-century parquet decorations inside the mosque.
Israeli part
After passing the front of the Muslim security check, there is the entrance for the Israeli part next to their military office.
There is a security check again, but it was not that strict because no Palestinian is allowed to visit. They said to me ”Welcome to Israel!“.
Though they check your belongings again at the very entrance over the stairs, it’s not that strict if you don’t possess any knives.
Visit quietly as the Jewish people pray inside the synagogue.
Do not miss the free brochure distributed at the entrance.
They advocate that the building was stolen by the Muslims though it belongs to the Jewish.
You can have a glimpse of how Israel invades Palestine with it.
Information
- Sun-Thu 8:00-16:00
- Admission free, but donate about 5 NIS if you are a female and borrow a robe to enter.