Did you know that the Belal Bin Rabah Mosque shares its location with Rachel’s Tomb? This unique site stands on the Jerusalem-Hebron Road. It marks the northern entrance to Bethlehem.
Rachel’s Tomb is venerated as the burial place of the matriarch Rachel. She was the mother of St. Joseph. According to the Bible Jacob’s family journeyed to Hebron. During this trip Rachel passed away. Jacob buried her at this very site.
Muslims also revere this place. They call it the Belal Bin Rabah Mosque. In 1560 Mohammed Basha built a shrine here during Ottoman rule. He crowned it with a vault.
Centuries later in the 19th century Moses Montefiore added two rooms. He also created a passageway with a mihrab. This provided a prayer corner for Muslims at the Belal Bin Rabah Mosque.
After the 1967 occupation the site was confiscated. Palestinians were then barred from entering. With the construction of the Segregation Wall in 2002 Rachel’s Tomb was annexed. It became part of Jerusalem. Fences and security towers surround it.
In 2010 Rachel’s Tomb which includes the Belal Bin Rabah Mosque was listed as a Jewish national heritage site. It is considered the third holiest site in Judaism.
Interestingly UNESCO once declared Rachel’s Tomb as the Bilal ibn Rabah mosque. This endorsement of a Palestinian claim surfaced in 1996. It seemed to overlook Muslim tradition spanning centuries.
Some argue that unlike the Temple Mount Rachel’s Tomb never served as a mosque. Their connection to the site relates to Rachel not Bilal ibn Rabah. Bilal was Mohammed’s first muezzin.
The Belal Bin Rabah Mosque and Rachel’s Tomb have a complex history. For over 1700 years Rachel’s Tomb has been identified as the grave of the Jewish matriarch. Generations of Jews have prayed here. The site is depicted in countless Jewish religious works.
Muslims connect to the site through Rachel. They believe she died on the way to Bethlehem. Her name means to wander. Muslims also acknowledge the site as her grave.
For centuries Rachel’s Tomb resembled a Muslim saint’s grave. In 1622 the Turkish governor allowed Jews to enclose the pillars supporting the dome. This created a closed building.
From 1841 Jewish caretakers managed the site until 1948. Jordan then prevented Jewish access until 1967. After the Six-Day War Jews returned. Millions have since visited the Belal Bin Rabah Mosque and Rachel’s Tomb.
Historically Jews paid protection money to local Arabs. This was to prevent harm to Rachel’s Tomb. In 1841 Moses Montefiore expanded the tomb. This was to strengthen the Jewish presence.
Firmans or royal decrees recognized Jewish rights. These firmans acknowledged the site as a Jewish holy place. They protected Jewish visits from obstruction.
In the 1990s terror attacks led to increased security concerns. Nationalist Palestinian demonstrations erupted. Some Muslims began claiming Islamic soil.
During the Second Intifada Palestinians attacked Rachel’s Tomb. They started calling it the mosque of Bilal ibn Rabah. This name gained traction in Palestinian discourse.
Despite the disputes Rachel’s Tomb remains a significant site. It embodies layers of religious and historical importance. Its story reflects the region’s intricate past. The Belal Bin Rabah Mosque stands as a testament to shared yet contested heritage.