Legends of the Dome of the Rock:

4 / THE TONGUE OF THE ROCK

When Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, rode to Jerusalem astride his marvelous mare, he perceived the Foundation Stone in the Temple, and recalled all that had befallen it the binding of Isaac at the hands of Abraham his father, and the altar of David and King Solomon. The sight of the Rock roused his emotions and he cried out with fervor: "Salem Aleik Ya Sakhrat Allah — Peace be unto you. Rock of Allah!"

Upon seeing Muhammad and hearing his benediction, the Rock, too, was seized with emotion; it put forth from itself a tongue and said: "Salam Aleik Ya Rassul Allah — Peace be unto you, messenger of Allah!" ' To this very day the tongue protrudes from the southeastern side of the Foundation Stone. Its name in Arabic is Lisan es-Sakhrah — Tongue of the Rock

When the hour came for Muhammad to ascend to heaven, he placed himself upon the Foundation Stone, which had begun rising toward the opened heavens. The Foundation Stone continued to rise and intended to enter heaven with the prophet. At that moment the angel Gabriel descended, clutched the Foundation Stone on both sides with all his strength, and cried: "Your place, O Stone, is on earth. You have no part in the prophet's Garden of Eden."

At the edges of the Foundation Stone may be seen long '•ridges. These are the traces of Gabriel's fingers as he clutched the Foundation Stone and fastened it to its place on earth.

Sources: Qur’an 17:1. C. Schick, Beit el-Makdas, 1887, p. 9; T.W. Arnold, Painting in Islam, 1928, p. 117-22

Culled from: Zev Vilnay: Legends of Jerusalem, Jewish Publication Society, 1973.

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