Richmond 1924 Near the eastern entrance to the Dome of the Rock stands the Dome of the Chain (Qubbat al-Silsila). It was constructed at about the same time , also by 'Abd al-Malik. Tradition maintains that King David received an iron rod (and not a chain) from the angel Gabriel, commanding him to span it across his judgement hall and suspend a bell from it. When plaintiff and defendant touched the rod in turn, the bell sounded for the one with whom the truth lay. Early Arab geographers speak, however, of a chain, not a rod. Yaqut, describing the dome, says that here �hung the chain which allowed itself to be grasped by him who spoke the truth, but could not be touched by him who gave false witness, until he had renounced his craft and repented of his sin� (Yaqut, IV. 593).

The original plan of the Dome of the Chain has been preserved, except for the mihrab, which is later. It consists of two concentric sets of columns topped by a dome. It is reminiscent of the Dome of the Rock (but it is much smaller and is open on all sides.