Imam Husayn Shrine
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The Shrine of Husayn Ibn Ali (Arabic: مقام الامام الحسين) is one of the oldest mosques on Earth and a holy site of Islam in the city of Karbala, Iraq. It stands on the site of the grave of Husayn Ibn Ali (ALLAH Bless With Him), the second grandson of Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him), near the place where he was martyr during the Battle of Karbala in October 680 CE/ 10 Moharam 61 A.H.
Two main roads lead the visitor to Karbala. One is from the Iraqi capital Baghdad, through Al-Musails, and the other is from Najaf. At the city's entrance there is a row of houses decorated with wooden columns.
The boundary wall of the shrine surrounds wooden gates covered with glass decorations. The gates open into a courtyard separated into smaller rooms or precincts with many "Iwans" along the walls. The grave of Husayn Ibn Ali (ALLAH Bless With Him) is enclosed within a cage-like structure, found directly beneath the golden dome. Al Abbas Mosque is located nearby.
Two main roads lead the visitor to Karbala. One is from the Iraqi capital Baghdad, through Al-Musails, and the other is from Najaf. At the city's entrance there is a row of houses decorated with wooden columns.
The boundary wall of the shrine surrounds wooden gates covered with glass decorations. The gates open into a courtyard separated into smaller rooms or precincts with many "Iwans" along the walls. The grave of Husayn Ibn Ali (ALLAH Bless With Him) is enclosed within a cage-like structure, found directly beneath the golden dome. Al Abbas Mosque is located nearby.
History Of Shrine
Holy grave of Husayn Ibn Ali (ALLAH Bless With Him)
On 680/61 Hijri Husayn is said to have been buried on this day. It was Bani Asad who, after the departure of Ahl al Bait, assembled at the grave of Imam Husayn. Historical accounts provide little light on the first builder of the Shrine. It is assumed that Bani Asad also the first, who erected a tent upon the grave of Imam Husayn. A Shaikh of Bani Asad lighted a candle at the grave of the Imam and planted a berry tree a few feet away from the side of the head of the grave, to indicate the grave of Husayn.
Al-Mukhtar Ibn Ubaida Al-Thaqafy built the mosque surrounding the holy grave and a dome over the grave. Two entrance gates were put for the mosque at 65 A.H./684 CE.
Another roof along with dome for the shrine was built during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Abi Al-Abbas Al-Safah at 3 August 749 /132 A.H. The roof along with domes was destroyed during the reign of Abi Jafar Al-Mansur at 21 March 749/146 A.H. The destroyed roof was rebuilt during Al-Mahdi reign at 11 November 774 /158 A.H. During the reign of the Caliph Harun Ar-Rashid, the mausoleum was destroyed and the lote-tree that stood besides the grave of Imam Hussein was cut down 22 June 787 /171 A.H. The destroyed roof was rebuilt during Al-Mahdi reign at 25 October 808 /193 A.H.
The Caliph Al-Mutawakkil destroyed the mausoleum and ordered the nearby land to be plowed 15 July 850 /236 A.H. Al-Muntasir reconstructed the shrine. A flag column was put on it to be recognizable by the visitors, many peoples started to travel and settle there at 17 March 861/ 247 A.H. The construction built by Al-Muntasir collapsed; the ruler of Tubristan Mohammed son Zaid rebuilt it at 8 June 886/ 273 A.H. Al-Daee Al-Alawy constructed a dome for the shrine. Two roofs were built and a fence was constructed for the shrine 23 March 893/ 280 A.H.
The Buwayhid emir Uthid Ad-Dawla built the dome and surrounding porches were constructed, an ivory sepulcher was constructed. He also constructed the city of Karbala by making houses and the city boundary. Omran Ibn Shahin at that time also constructed a mosque adjacent to the shrine 29 August 977/ 367 A.H.
Minster Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Fadhil rebuilt the holy shrine after big Fire destroyed at 10 June 1016/ 407 A.H. The king Shah visited the holy shrine and reconstructed the shrine's outer fence at 1086/479 A.H. The tomb was renovated by An-Nasir li-Din Allah at 4 February 1223/ 620 A.H.
Sultan Uwais Bin Al-Hassan Al-Jalairy reconstructed the dome and walls of the holy shrine at 8 September 1365/ 767 A.H. Sultan Uwais Bin Al-Hassan Al-Jala'iry reconstructed the dome and the walls of the holy shrine at February 1384/ 786 A.H.
The Safavid shah of Iran Ismail constructed a sarcophagus of inlaid work over the real grave at 1508 /914 A.H. The Safavid Sultan Ismaiel visited Karbala and built a box made of teak wood on the grave at 1514/ 920 A.H. Sultan Ismaiel Al-Safawy donated a big fabulous silver net to be put on the grave at 932/ 1526 A.H. Ali Basha, the governor of Baghdad called (Wannd Zadah) renewed the dome's construction at 1575/ 983 A.H.
Abbas Safavid Shah built a mesh of copper on the grave and decorated the dome with Kashani tiles at 5 November 1622/ 1032 A.H. Othman Sultan Murad IV whitewashed the exterior of the dome at 15 May 1638 /1048 A.H.
The wife of Nadir Shah gave orders to an overall reconstruction of the holy shrine and donated money for the shrine at 1722/ 1135 A.H. Sultan Nadir Shah visited Karbala and ordered to renovate the construction and offered many gems to the treasury of the shrine at 1742/1155 A.H.
Shah Mohammad Al-Qajary plastered the dome with pure gold at 7July 1796/1211 A.H. Shrine was destroyed at 14 May 1801/1216 A.H. The shrine destroyed, Karbala's people wrote a letter to the Sultan Fatih Ali Shah Qajary to help in restoring it, and he ordered to renew the dome and replace its golden plates, he sent an envoy to supervise the work at 1812/ 1227 A.H. Sultan Fatih Ali Shah built the two domes of the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas, he appointed his deputy Sadir Adam (Ibrahim Khan Al-Shirazy) at 1834/ 1250 A.H. Sultan Nasir Al-Deen Shah Qajary renewed the construction of the dome of the holy shrine of Imam Hussein and some of the gilding at 1856/1273 A.H. Nasir Al-Deen Shah expanded the courtyard of the holy shrine at 16.May 1866/ 1283 A.H.
Renovating the base pillars of the courtyard at 1932 /1351 A.H. Tahir Saif Al-Deen reconstructed the silver screens attached to the shrine at 21 February 1939/1358 A.H. Tahir Saif Al-Deen renewed the western minaret at 29 January 1941 /1360 A.H. The surrounding houses of the holy shrine and the religious schools including the minor courtyard and the minaret (Abid minaret) all demolished on the pretext of opening the Hai'er street at 1947/ 1367 A.H. A road was built around the shrine by the then administrator of Karbala City, Sayyid Abd Al-Rasul Al-Khalsi. He also broadened the courtyard of the shrine at 1948/1367 A.H. The Late Sabry Al-Hilaly, the handwriting artist, wrote the Sura Al-Daher in the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas and started working on the eastern side which was later attached to the courtyard and he used the precious Kashani bricks for decorating the Iwans at 1950/1370 A.H. The dome reconstructed and golden bricks were interposed for the second time at 1951/1371 A.H. The decorated mirrors of the holy shrine were renewed along with all porches, precious marble were brought from Asfahan to cover the walls of the two holy shrines, the upper part of the golden Iwan was gilded at 1953/1373 A.H. Reconstruction committee raised the Iwans and paved their walls with Kashanin bricks at 1964/1383 A.H. A Charitable person donated marble pillars to the golden Iwan at 1965/1384 A.H. The marble pillars were brought from Iran, they started demolishing the old Iwan's ceiling and the cranes were sent to set up the marble at 1968/1388 A.H. Iron pillars were connected with underground bridges as bases of the marble pillars at 1970/1390 A.H. The cornerstone was placed for the building of the golden Iwan's structure at 1973/1392 A.H. A plan for modernizing the shrine of Imam Hussein was put into action, it included rebuilding the golden Iwan with marble pillars and the western side of the courtyard was demolished and its walls paved with Kashani bricks at 1974/1394 A.H. The renovation process of the two holy shrines was launched, the front facades were covered with Kashani bricks, and a library and museum were built on the western side of the holy Imam Hussein shrine at 1975/1395 A.H. Ministry of Endowments decorated and restored the golden Iwan with Kashani and mosaic at 1976/1396 A.H.
The related parts of the outer fence hotels and houses and trade shops were demolished, an outer fence of 11, 3 meters high surrounding the shrine was built with rooms and halls at 1980/1400 A.H.
Major damage to the shrine occurs as the city experiences violent reprisals by the army of Saddam Hussein after an uprising against his regime following the Persian Gulf War at 1991/1411 A.H. Repairs to the shrine from the damage done in 1991 are finally completed on 1994/1415 A.H.
Establishing of the engineering body in the holy shrine that is the "Committee of projects and quality control" (Called after endorsing the new management law of the holy shrines the Section of Engineering and Technical Affairs), this Section established after the fall of the Saddam by the authorization of the highest committee formed by the highest Religious Authority to manage the holy shrines of Karbala , this committee has started on the day of its establishment, a development campaign to the holy shrine, it included replacing the outer fence's rooms with service and managerial and engineering rooms instead, in addition to ten technical workshops, a religious school and two libraries (One electronic) and a guestroom for the visitors and various stores and a security video monitoring system at 2003/1424 A.H. The establishment of the Media Committee, it consists of various departments, they are: audio and visual production department.It produces all the audio and the visual related to the holy shrine of Imam Hussein whether those related to the other sections fro documenting them their work or to record the different and various activities during the days of the special occasions when they exercise the special rites, also the section of celebrations making and supervising the T.V. channels work and Internet section which job was limited on receiving the e-mails and political reports making at 2003/1st Ramadhan 1424 A.H. Two halls were opened in the western fence side; cultural sections were opened including developing the Internet section which designed the holy shrine's website and forming the publication section which issues a monthly magazine and weekly newspaper and the visitor's guide with many different paper editions at 2004/ Rabee Thani,1425 A.H.
A video broadcasting system from the holy shrine on the internet was opened for the religious and cultural activities of the holy shrine; it was the first of its kind among all other holy shrines in the world at 2005/ 28,Thi Al-Hija 1426 A.H. Inaugurating the project of building the second floor with 4000 meters, it includes a big hall for the religious commemorations and conferences, another one for the antiques museum and many other study halls and a researches centre related to the library and the manuscripts room and many other managerial and technical rooms at 2007/1428 A.H. Launching the project of covering the two minarets with gilded copper bricks and it was at the expense of the shrine's earnings of two years after the tyrant's fall, Iraqi teamwork has the lead in the main technical works and an Indian workers working on the adhesion and fixing works.
Al-Mukhtar Ibn Ubaida Al-Thaqafy built the mosque surrounding the holy grave and a dome over the grave. Two entrance gates were put for the mosque at 65 A.H./684 CE.
Another roof along with dome for the shrine was built during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Abi Al-Abbas Al-Safah at 3 August 749 /132 A.H. The roof along with domes was destroyed during the reign of Abi Jafar Al-Mansur at 21 March 749/146 A.H. The destroyed roof was rebuilt during Al-Mahdi reign at 11 November 774 /158 A.H. During the reign of the Caliph Harun Ar-Rashid, the mausoleum was destroyed and the lote-tree that stood besides the grave of Imam Hussein was cut down 22 June 787 /171 A.H. The destroyed roof was rebuilt during Al-Mahdi reign at 25 October 808 /193 A.H.
The Caliph Al-Mutawakkil destroyed the mausoleum and ordered the nearby land to be plowed 15 July 850 /236 A.H. Al-Muntasir reconstructed the shrine. A flag column was put on it to be recognizable by the visitors, many peoples started to travel and settle there at 17 March 861/ 247 A.H. The construction built by Al-Muntasir collapsed; the ruler of Tubristan Mohammed son Zaid rebuilt it at 8 June 886/ 273 A.H. Al-Daee Al-Alawy constructed a dome for the shrine. Two roofs were built and a fence was constructed for the shrine 23 March 893/ 280 A.H.
The Buwayhid emir Uthid Ad-Dawla built the dome and surrounding porches were constructed, an ivory sepulcher was constructed. He also constructed the city of Karbala by making houses and the city boundary. Omran Ibn Shahin at that time also constructed a mosque adjacent to the shrine 29 August 977/ 367 A.H.
Minster Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Fadhil rebuilt the holy shrine after big Fire destroyed at 10 June 1016/ 407 A.H. The king Shah visited the holy shrine and reconstructed the shrine's outer fence at 1086/479 A.H. The tomb was renovated by An-Nasir li-Din Allah at 4 February 1223/ 620 A.H.
Sultan Uwais Bin Al-Hassan Al-Jalairy reconstructed the dome and walls of the holy shrine at 8 September 1365/ 767 A.H. Sultan Uwais Bin Al-Hassan Al-Jala'iry reconstructed the dome and the walls of the holy shrine at February 1384/ 786 A.H.
The Safavid shah of Iran Ismail constructed a sarcophagus of inlaid work over the real grave at 1508 /914 A.H. The Safavid Sultan Ismaiel visited Karbala and built a box made of teak wood on the grave at 1514/ 920 A.H. Sultan Ismaiel Al-Safawy donated a big fabulous silver net to be put on the grave at 932/ 1526 A.H. Ali Basha, the governor of Baghdad called (Wannd Zadah) renewed the dome's construction at 1575/ 983 A.H.
Abbas Safavid Shah built a mesh of copper on the grave and decorated the dome with Kashani tiles at 5 November 1622/ 1032 A.H. Othman Sultan Murad IV whitewashed the exterior of the dome at 15 May 1638 /1048 A.H.
The wife of Nadir Shah gave orders to an overall reconstruction of the holy shrine and donated money for the shrine at 1722/ 1135 A.H. Sultan Nadir Shah visited Karbala and ordered to renovate the construction and offered many gems to the treasury of the shrine at 1742/1155 A.H.
Shah Mohammad Al-Qajary plastered the dome with pure gold at 7July 1796/1211 A.H. Shrine was destroyed at 14 May 1801/1216 A.H. The shrine destroyed, Karbala's people wrote a letter to the Sultan Fatih Ali Shah Qajary to help in restoring it, and he ordered to renew the dome and replace its golden plates, he sent an envoy to supervise the work at 1812/ 1227 A.H. Sultan Fatih Ali Shah built the two domes of the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas, he appointed his deputy Sadir Adam (Ibrahim Khan Al-Shirazy) at 1834/ 1250 A.H. Sultan Nasir Al-Deen Shah Qajary renewed the construction of the dome of the holy shrine of Imam Hussein and some of the gilding at 1856/1273 A.H. Nasir Al-Deen Shah expanded the courtyard of the holy shrine at 16.May 1866/ 1283 A.H.
Renovating the base pillars of the courtyard at 1932 /1351 A.H. Tahir Saif Al-Deen reconstructed the silver screens attached to the shrine at 21 February 1939/1358 A.H. Tahir Saif Al-Deen renewed the western minaret at 29 January 1941 /1360 A.H. The surrounding houses of the holy shrine and the religious schools including the minor courtyard and the minaret (Abid minaret) all demolished on the pretext of opening the Hai'er street at 1947/ 1367 A.H. A road was built around the shrine by the then administrator of Karbala City, Sayyid Abd Al-Rasul Al-Khalsi. He also broadened the courtyard of the shrine at 1948/1367 A.H. The Late Sabry Al-Hilaly, the handwriting artist, wrote the Sura Al-Daher in the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas and started working on the eastern side which was later attached to the courtyard and he used the precious Kashani bricks for decorating the Iwans at 1950/1370 A.H. The dome reconstructed and golden bricks were interposed for the second time at 1951/1371 A.H. The decorated mirrors of the holy shrine were renewed along with all porches, precious marble were brought from Asfahan to cover the walls of the two holy shrines, the upper part of the golden Iwan was gilded at 1953/1373 A.H. Reconstruction committee raised the Iwans and paved their walls with Kashanin bricks at 1964/1383 A.H. A Charitable person donated marble pillars to the golden Iwan at 1965/1384 A.H. The marble pillars were brought from Iran, they started demolishing the old Iwan's ceiling and the cranes were sent to set up the marble at 1968/1388 A.H. Iron pillars were connected with underground bridges as bases of the marble pillars at 1970/1390 A.H. The cornerstone was placed for the building of the golden Iwan's structure at 1973/1392 A.H. A plan for modernizing the shrine of Imam Hussein was put into action, it included rebuilding the golden Iwan with marble pillars and the western side of the courtyard was demolished and its walls paved with Kashani bricks at 1974/1394 A.H. The renovation process of the two holy shrines was launched, the front facades were covered with Kashani bricks, and a library and museum were built on the western side of the holy Imam Hussein shrine at 1975/1395 A.H. Ministry of Endowments decorated and restored the golden Iwan with Kashani and mosaic at 1976/1396 A.H.
The related parts of the outer fence hotels and houses and trade shops were demolished, an outer fence of 11, 3 meters high surrounding the shrine was built with rooms and halls at 1980/1400 A.H.
Major damage to the shrine occurs as the city experiences violent reprisals by the army of Saddam Hussein after an uprising against his regime following the Persian Gulf War at 1991/1411 A.H. Repairs to the shrine from the damage done in 1991 are finally completed on 1994/1415 A.H.
Establishing of the engineering body in the holy shrine that is the "Committee of projects and quality control" (Called after endorsing the new management law of the holy shrines the Section of Engineering and Technical Affairs), this Section established after the fall of the Saddam by the authorization of the highest committee formed by the highest Religious Authority to manage the holy shrines of Karbala , this committee has started on the day of its establishment, a development campaign to the holy shrine, it included replacing the outer fence's rooms with service and managerial and engineering rooms instead, in addition to ten technical workshops, a religious school and two libraries (One electronic) and a guestroom for the visitors and various stores and a security video monitoring system at 2003/1424 A.H. The establishment of the Media Committee, it consists of various departments, they are: audio and visual production department.It produces all the audio and the visual related to the holy shrine of Imam Hussein whether those related to the other sections fro documenting them their work or to record the different and various activities during the days of the special occasions when they exercise the special rites, also the section of celebrations making and supervising the T.V. channels work and Internet section which job was limited on receiving the e-mails and political reports making at 2003/1st Ramadhan 1424 A.H. Two halls were opened in the western fence side; cultural sections were opened including developing the Internet section which designed the holy shrine's website and forming the publication section which issues a monthly magazine and weekly newspaper and the visitor's guide with many different paper editions at 2004/ Rabee Thani,1425 A.H.
A video broadcasting system from the holy shrine on the internet was opened for the religious and cultural activities of the holy shrine; it was the first of its kind among all other holy shrines in the world at 2005/ 28,Thi Al-Hija 1426 A.H. Inaugurating the project of building the second floor with 4000 meters, it includes a big hall for the religious commemorations and conferences, another one for the antiques museum and many other study halls and a researches centre related to the library and the manuscripts room and many other managerial and technical rooms at 2007/1428 A.H. Launching the project of covering the two minarets with gilded copper bricks and it was at the expense of the shrine's earnings of two years after the tyrant's fall, Iraqi teamwork has the lead in the main technical works and an Indian workers working on the adhesion and fixing works.
Architecture and Design
The grave of Imam Husayn (ALLAH Bless With Him) is found in the middle of the precinct, and is called the "Rawda" or "Garden" and it has several entry gates. The most famous one is called "Al-Qibla" or "Bab Al-Dhahab". When it is entered, one can see the tomb of Habib Ibn Madhahir Al-Asadi (ALLAH Bless With Him), to the right hand side.Habib was a friend and companion of Imam Husayn (ALLAH Bless With Him) since their childhood and was honored with martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala.
Within the shrine of Imam Husayn can also be found a grave of all the 72 martyrs of Karbala. They were buried in a mass grave which was then covered with soil to the ground level. This mass grave is at the foot of Imam Husayn's grave. As well, beside Imam Husayn's (ALLAH Bless With Him) grave are the graves of his two sons Ali Al-Akbar and the 6-month old,Ali Al-Asghar. Also buried within the mosque is Ibrahim son of the Musa Al-Kadhim, who spent his life preaching about Karbala.
The dome is 27 meters high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with 12 windows, each of which is about 1.25m away from the other, from the inside, and 1.30 m from the outside.The Shrine has an area of 59m /75 m with ten gates, and about 65 rooms, well decorated from the inside and outside, and used as class rooms for studying.
Within the shrine of Imam Husayn can also be found a grave of all the 72 martyrs of Karbala. They were buried in a mass grave which was then covered with soil to the ground level. This mass grave is at the foot of Imam Husayn's grave. As well, beside Imam Husayn's (ALLAH Bless With Him) grave are the graves of his two sons Ali Al-Akbar and the 6-month old,Ali Al-Asghar. Also buried within the mosque is Ibrahim son of the Musa Al-Kadhim, who spent his life preaching about Karbala.
The dome is 27 meters high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with 12 windows, each of which is about 1.25m away from the other, from the inside, and 1.30 m from the outside.The Shrine has an area of 59m /75 m with ten gates, and about 65 rooms, well decorated from the inside and outside, and used as class rooms for studying.