After the Muslim armies conquered Jerusalem in 638 Caliph Omar visited the city. He entered the Temple precinct and said a prayer on Abraham's rock. This to the Muslims was sacred, for the 17th sura of the Koran tells of the Prophet's miraculous night journey "from the holy temple in Mecca to the distant temple" in Jerusalem; from the rock of Moriah Mohammed ascended to the seven heavens, and from there returned to Mecca.
