Whether the man who offered his own life was in fact a righteous believer, or whether the whole episode was a test and trial for the Christian community that day, the result was that they came to glorify that beam of wood, overlaying it with gold and pearls. Thereafter they fashioned crosses, sought blessing through their shape, and kissed them—may God curse them. At Helena’s command—the mother of the king—the refuse was removed, and on that spot an enormous church was erected, lavishly decorated with every kind of ornament. This is the famous church that still stands in Jerusalem today. It is called al-Qumāmah (“the Dump”) in reference to what once lay there, and they also call it al-Qiyāmah (“the Resurrection”), meaning the place from which the body of the Messiah will rise.

Helena then ordered that the city’s rubbish, sweepings, and filth be heaped upon the Rock that is the Jews’ qiblah. It remained in that state until ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb conquered Jerusalem. He cleared the refuse away with his own cloak, purifying the site of all impurities and defilements. He did not build the mosque behind the Rock but in front of it, at the very spot where the Messenger of God—peace and blessings be upon him—led the prophets in prayer on the Night of the Ascension; that is al-Aqṣā.