Dome of the Ascension

The current edifice was built by the Ayyubid governor of Jerusalem, Izz ad-Din az-Zanjili (Amir ʿIzz ad-Din ʿUthman bin ʿAli Abdullah az-Zanjili)[6] in 1200 or 1201 (during Sultan Al-Adil I’s reign the brother of Saladin Al-Ayyubi[5]), using Crusader construction materials.

[1][7] An Arabic inscription dated to 1200 or 1201 (597 AH) describes it as renovated[8] and rededicated as a waqf.

[9][10] The structure, notably its column capitals, are of Frankish style and construction, but some repair or renovation was done in or after the Ayyubid dynasty period.

[7] The dome was covered with lead sheets, but they were recently replaced by white stone plates.

Its architectural style can be defined as Umayyad or Abbasid, although its current edifice is Ayyubid and construction materials are from the Crusaders.

[12] In the year 1195 AH, 1781 AD, the verse of the Isra’ was placed over its beautiful mihrab, which was covered with Ottoman faience, and confirming its name as the Dome of the Miraj (Ascension).