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Holiest sites in Shia Islam

Both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims agree on the three holiest sites in Islam being, respectively, the Masjid al-Haram (including the Kaaba), in Mecca; the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, in Medina; and the Al-Masjid al-Aqsa, in Jerusalem.

The Sacred Mosque in Mecca

Shia Muslims consider sites associated with Muhammad, his family members (Ahl al-Bayt), Shia imams and their family members to be holy. After the three holy cities of Islam (Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem), some of the most revered sites by Shias include Najaf and Karbala, in Iraq, and Qom and Mashhad, in Iran.[1][2]

Holy sites accepted by all Muslims edit

Kaaba edit

Kaaba (Arabic: The Cube) is the most sacred site in Islam. It is surrounded by Masjid-al-Haram. During the Hajj period, the mosque is unable to contain the multitude of pilgrims, who pray on the outlining streets. More than 2 million worshippers gather to pray during Eid prayers.[3]

According to the teachings of Islam, God in the Quran used the word mosque when referring to the sites established by Ibrahim (Abraham) and his progeny as houses of worship to God centuries before the revelation of the Quran. The first of these spots is Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the second is Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Before Mecca and Jerusalem came under Muslim control between 630 AD and 638 AD, the site of the Kaaba, which was established by Abraham and Ishmael, was used by non-Muslim Arabs who worshipped multiple gods.

And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House, saying: Do not associate with Me aught, and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves.

— Quran, surah 22 (Al-Hajj), ayah 26[4]

And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House: Our Lord! accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing:

— Quran, surah 2 (Al-Baqara), ayah 127[5]
 
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi edit

Al-Masjid an-Nabawi ("Mosque of the Prophet"), located in Medina, Saudi Arabia is the second holiest site in Islam.

The edifice was originally Muhammad's house; he settled there after his Hijra (emigration) to Medina, and later built a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building, with no gender separation. The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Quran. The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world.

The original mosque was built by Muhammad and subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque. The most important feature of the site is the Green Dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of Muhammad is located. Constructed in 1817 CE and painted green in 1839, it is known as the Dome of the Prophet.[6]

Al-Aqsa Mosque compound edit

 
 
The Dome of the Rock (on the left) and Al Aqsa Mosque prayer hall (on the right)

Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound / Haram Ash-Sharif ("the Farthest Mosque" / "the Noble Sanctuary") is a mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, and is the third holiest site in Islam. It includes the Dome of the Rock and a silver domed prayer hall, also referred to in English as Aqsa Mosque.[7] In Judaism, the location is known as the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, the place where the Temple is generally accepted to have stood.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound is sacred because it was the first of the two Qiblas.[8][9] Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad led prayers towards this site until the seventeenth month after the emigration, when God directed him to turn towards the Kaaba.

Muslims believe that Muhammad was transported by the Buraq from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al-Aqsa during the Night Journey. The mosque is also believed by many to be the area from where Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven.[10] According to some narrations, a single prayer performed at this mosque is the same as having performed 500 prayers elsewhere.[11]

 
 
Umayyad Mosque (on the left) with the Minaret of Isa (on the right)

Holy sites accepted by Shia Muslims edit

Imam Ali Shrine edit

 
Exterior view of Imam Ali Shrine

Of the sites accepted by Shia Muslims, the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf is considered the holiest. Shia Muslims believe that it contains the tomb of Ali. He was the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. Ali is considered by Shia tradition to be the first legitimate caliph and the first imam due to the proclamation given by Muhammad. The site is visited annually by at least 8 million pilgrims on average, which is estimated to increase to 20 million in years to come.[12] Adam and Noah are also buried within this mosque according to Shia Islam.[13][14]

Many Shia believe that Ali did not want his grave to be desecrated by his enemies and consequently asked his friends and family to bury him secretly. This secret gravesite is supposed to have been revealed later during the Abbasid Caliphate by Ja'far al-Sadiq who is believed by Shia Muslims, the sixth Shia imam.[15] Most Shias accept that Ali is buried in the Imam Ali Mosque which is now the city of Najaf.[16]

Ja'far al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia imam, said that the Imam Ali Mosque is the third of five holy places: Mecca, Medina, Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, and the shrine of Fatima Masumeh in Qom.[2]

God chose that land [Najaf] as the abode of the Prophets. I swear to God that no one more honourable than the Commander of the Believers [Ali] has ever lived there after (the time of) his purified fathers, Ādam and Nūh.[17]

— Ja'far al-Sadiq

Imam Husayn Shrine edit

 
Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala. Two tall minarets of Al-Abbas Shrine are also seen in the picture.

Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala is the second holiest site especially for Shia Muslims. It contains the tomb of the Husayn, the third Shia imam. It also contains the tombs of Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn, Ali al-Asghar ibn Husayn, sons of Husayn; Ibrahim al-Mujab, grandson of Musa al-Kadhim and the martyrs of Karbala.

The mosque stands on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali, where he was martyred during the Battle of Karbala in 680.[18][19] Up to a million pilgrims visit the city to observe the anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali's death.[20] There are many Shia traditions which narrate the status of Karbala:

Karbalā, where your grandson and his family will be killed, is the most blessed and the most sacred land on Earth and it is one of the valleys of Paradise.[21]

— The archangel Gabriel

God chose the land of Karbalā as a safe and blessed sanctuary twenty-four thousand years before He created the land of the Ka'bah and chose it as a sanctuary. Verily it [Karbalā] will shine among the gardens of Paradise, like a shining star shines among the stars for the people of Earth.[22]

Not one night passes in which Gabriel and Michael do not go to visit him [Husayn].[23]

Fatima Masumeh Shrine edit

 
Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom

The Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom, Iran contains the tomb of Fatimah bint Musa, sister of the eighth Shia imam, Ali al-Ridha. Located in Qom, Iran, it has been considered the Fatima Masumeh Shrine to be the third holiest shrine in Shia Islam.[24] The shrine has attracted to itself dozens of seminaries and religious schools.[25]

Jamkaran Mosque edit

 
Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, Iran

The Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, Iran is one of the primary significant mosques in Jamkaran. Hassan ibn Muthlih Jamkarani is reported to have met the Shia's 12th imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. In the rear of the mosque, there is a "well of requests (of prayers)" to be passed on to God (Allah). Pilgrims tie small strings in a knot around the grids covering the holy well, which they hope will be received by the Imam Mahdi.

Al-Sahlah Mosque edit

 
Al-Sahlah Mosque in Kufa, Iraq

The Al-Sahlah Mosque in Kufa, Iraq is said to be the future home of the Twelfth Shia imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi.

Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque edit

 
Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque in Damascus

The Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque in Damascus, Syria contains the tomb of Zaynab bint Ali, the daughter of Ali and Fatimah, and the granddaughter of Muhammad.

Al-Abbas Shrine edit

 
Al-Abbas Shrine in Karbala

The Al-Abbas Shrine is located directly across from the Imam Husayn Shrine, and contains the tomb of Abbas ibn Ali, son of Ali and brother of Husayn.

Millions of pilgrims visit the shrine and pay homage to it every year. The real grave of Abbas is beneath the masoulem, and is present in the shrine.[26] Emperors and kings of various dynasties have offered valuable gifts and gems to the shrine of Abbas. It was designed by Persian and Central Asian architects. The central pear shaped dome is an ornately decorated structure. On its sides stand two tall minarets. The tomb is covered with pure gold and surrounded by a trellis of silver. Iranian carpets are rolled out on the floors.[27]

Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque edit

 
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque in Damascus

The Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque in Damascus, Syria contains the tomb of Sukayna bint Husayn, the youngest daughter of Husayn ibn Ali, often referred to by her title: "Ruqayya".

Al-Kadhimiya Mosque edit

 
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad

The Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq contains the tombs of Musa al-Kadhim, seventh Shia imam and Muhammad al-Jawad, ninth Shia imam. Some consider the mosque the third holiest in Shia Islam.[28][29]

Imam Reza Shrine edit

 
Imam Reza Shrine, which is visited by 12 to 15 million pilgrims every year.

Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran contains the tomb of Ali al-Ridha, the eighth Shia imam. Ali al-Ridha is believed, by members of the Shia, to have been poisoned there upon the orders of Caliph Al-Ma'mun and the place was subsequently called, Mashhad ar-Ridhā (the place of martyrdom of Ali al-Ridha). By the end of the 9th century a dome was built on the grave and many buildings and bazaars sprang up around it. For years totalling more than a millennium, the mosque was destroyed and reconstructed several times.[30]

Nowadays Imam al-Ridha shrine in Mashhad, Iran, is a complex which contains the mausoleum of Ali al-Ridha, the eighth Shia imam. Several important theological schools are associated with the shrine of the eighth imam. As a city of great religious significance, it is also a place of pilgrimage. It is said that the rich go to Mecca but the poor journey to Mashhad. Thus, even as those who complete the pilgrimage to Mecca receive the title of haji, those who make the pilgrimage to Mashhad–and especially to the Imam Ridha shrine–are known as mashtee, a term employed also of its inhabitants. It is thought that over 20 million Muslims a year make the pilgrimage to Mashhad. It is generally considered to be the holiest Shia shrine in Iran, and is sometimes ranked as the third holiest Shia shrine in the world.[31]

Al-Askari Shrine edit

 
Al-Askari Shrine of the 10th and 11th Twelver Shia imams

The Al-Askari Shrine in Samarra, Iraq contains the tombs of Ali al-Hadi, tenth Shia imam and Hasan al-Askari, eleventh Shia imam. Hakimah Khātūn, sister of Ali al-Hadi and Narjis, mother of Muhammad al-Mahdi are also buried within the mosque. The cellar from which the twelfth or "Hidden" imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, disappeared from view is also found within this mosque.

At the time of the Al-Askari bombing in Samarra, it was reported that the mosque was one of Shia Islam's holiest sites, only exceeded by the shrines of Najaf and Karbala, making it the third holiest Shia site.[32]

Mosques associated with companions of Muhammad and the Shia imams edit

 
Shrine of Maytham al-Tammar in Kufa
 
Shrine of Kumayl ibn Ziyad in Al-Hannanah Mosque
 
Al-Nuqtah Mosque in Aleppo

Tombs of other family members of Muhammad edit

 
Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in Rey
 
Imamzadeh Hamzeh, Kashmar

Holy sites specific to other Shia Muslims (non-Twelvers) edit

Cemeteries edit

Al-Baqi' edit

 
Al-Baqi' cemetery in Medina

Al-Baqi' (Jannat al-Baqī) is a cemetery located across from Al-Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, Saudi Arabia. It is the oldest and first Islamic cemetery. Holy figures of Shia buried here include

Jannat al-Mu'alla Cemetery edit

 
Jannat al-Mu'alla cemetery in Makkah

The Jannat al-Mu'alla cemetery in Mecca, Saudi Arabia contains the graves of many relatives of Muhammad, held in high esteem by the Shia, including:

Bab al-Saghir Cemetery edit

The Bab al-Saghir cemetery in Damascus, Syria contains the graves of many relatives of Muhammad as well as sites related to the Battle of Karbala. Some of the figures laid to rest here include:

Other tombs for the family of imams edit

There are many tombs of the various descendants of the imams (often called imamzadeh). Some of them include:

 
Great Mosque of Kufa
  • Great Mosque of Kufa in Kufa, Iraq - contains the tombs of Muslim ibn Aqil, Khadijah bint Ali, Hani ibn Urwa, and Mukhtar al-Thaqafi. The mosque also contains many important sites relating to the prophets and Ali, including the place where he was fatally struck on the head while in Sujud
  • Mount Uhud near Medina, Saudi Arabia - bears the grave of Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib the uncle of Muhammad, along with the graves of all the other Muslims who fell at the Battle of Uhud.
  • The tomb of Zayd ibn Ali in Kufa, Iraq
  • Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Zayd - a descendant of Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin (grandson of Zayd ibn Ali) in Mashhad, Iran.
  • Awlād Muslim Mosque in Musayyib, Iraq - entombs the remains of the sons of Muslim ibn Aqil.

Tombs of Biblical prophets edit

 
The tomb of Daniel

Other places associated with Muhammad edit

  • Quba Mosque found just outside Medina, Saudi Arabia, was the first mosque ever built by Muhammad.[36][37][38] Its first stones were positioned by Muhammad on his emigration from the city of Mecca to Medina and was subsequently completed by his companions. Muhammad then waited for Ali to arrive before he entered the city of Medina.
  • Masjid al-Qiblatayn in Medina, Saudi Arabia - the mosque where the direction of prayer (qibla) was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca.
  • Cave of Hira located on the mountain Jabal al-Nour in Saudi Arabia - the place where the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Karbala and Najaf: Shia holy cities April, 2003
  2. ^ a b Escobar, Pepe (May 24, 2002). . Central Asia/Russia. Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on June 3, 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-12. our sixth imam, Imam Sadeg, says that we have five definitive holy places... first is Mecca... second is Medina... third belongs to our first imam of Shia, Ali, which is in Najaf. The fourth belongs to our third imam, Hussein, in Kerbala. The last one belongs to the daughter of our seventh imam and sister of our eighth imam, who is called Fatemah, and will be buried in Qom.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Makkah the Blessed".
  4. ^ Quran 22:26
  5. ^ Quran 2:127
  6. ^ Tore Kjeilen. "Madina - LookLex Encyclopaedia".
  7. ^ Schieck, Robert (2008) in Geographical Dimension of Islamic Jerusalem, Cambridge Scholars Publishing; see also Omar, Abdallah (2009) al-Madkhal li-dirasat al-Masjid al-Aqsa al-Mubarak, Beirut: Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyaah; also by the same author the Atlas of Al-Aqsa Mosque (2010)
  8. ^ Lindsay, James (2005). Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World. Greenwood Press. pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-313-32270-8.
  9. ^ Wendy Doninger, ed. (1999-09-01). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster. p. 70. ISBN 0-87779-044-2., reviewed on Google books
  10. ^ "Eyewitness: Inside al-Aqsa". BBC News. 2002-03-20.
  11. ^ Sahih al-Bukhari,
  12. ^ "Red tape curbs profits from Iraq religious tourism". Reuters. 2009-02-16. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  13. ^ al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). "10". Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. pp. 66–67.
  14. ^ "Iraq".
  15. ^ Majlesi, V.97, p. 246-251
  16. ^ Redha, Mohammad; Mohammad Agha (1999). Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (Imam Ali the Fourth Caliph, 1/1 Volume). Dar Al Kotob Al ilmiyah. ISBN 2-7451-2532-X.
  17. ^ al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). "10". Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. p. 67.
  18. ^ Shimoni & Levine, 1974, p. 160.
  19. ^ Aghaie, 2004, pp. 10-11.
  20. ^ "Interactive Maps: Sunni & Shia: The Worlds of Islam". PBS. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
  21. ^ al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). "Addendum before chapter 89". Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. p. 545.
  22. ^ al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). "88". Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. p. 534.
  23. ^ al-Qummi, Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). "88". Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni. Shiabooks.ca Press. p. 536.
  24. ^ Escobar, Pepe (May 24, 2002). . Central Asia/Russia. Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on June 3, 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-12. our sixth imam, Imam Sadeg, says that we have five definitive holy places that we respect very much... The third belongs to our first imam of Shia, Ali, which is in Najaf.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ . www.indiasnews.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-20. Retrieved 2006-12-18. Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, sister of Imam Reza, one of Iran's holiest places, is in Qom.
  26. ^ KaraÌraviÌ, NajmulhÌ£asan (January 1, 1974). Biography of Hazrat Abbas. Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust. ASIN B0007AIWQW.
  27. ^ Muhammad, Yousaf (December 2001). Al-Abbas (AS) - Rajul Al-Aqidah Wal Jehad. Islamic Republic of Iran.
  28. ^ Robertson, Hamish (March 3, 2004). "Iraq suicide bombings: an eyewitness account". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2006-11-12. After the bombing of the Al Kadhimiya Mosque, Middle East correspondent of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Nahlah Ayed, reported that '...in front of the Kadhimiya Mosque, the third holiest site for Shia Muslims
  29. ^ "Iraq blasts kill 143 on Shiite holy day". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. March 2, 2004. Retrieved 2006-11-12. 'After the blast, all you could see was death everywhere you looked,' said Ahmed Kamil Ibrahim, a guard at the Kazimiya shrine in Baghdad, the third-holiest in Shiite Islam.
  30. ^ Zabeth (1999) pp. 12-16
  31. ^ . sacredsites.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2006-03-13.
  32. ^ Gosh, Aparisim (March 6, 2006). . Time. pp. Cover Story. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-12. That makes al-Askari one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest sites, exceeded in veneration only by the shrines of Najaf and Karbala. Even Samarra's Sunnis hold al-Askari in high esteem. The expression 'to swear by the shrine' is routinely used by both communities. Editor's note: Quote is found on of article.
  33. ^ "Azərbaycan Prezidentinin Rəsmi internet səhifəsi - XƏBƏRLƏR » Tədbirlər İlham Əliyev Gəncə şəhərindəki "İmamzadə" kompleksində aparılan təmir-bərpa və tikinti işlərinin gedişi ilə tanış olub".
  34. ^ "Saudi Arabia". al-islam.org. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  35. ^ "Saudi Arabia".
  36. ^ Michigan Consortium for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (1986). Goss, V. P.; Bornstein, C. V. (eds.). The Meeting of Two Worlds: Cultural Exchange Between East and West During the Period of the Crusades. Vol. 21. Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University. p. 208. ISBN 0918720583.
  37. ^ Mustafa Abu Sway. (PDF). Central Conference of American Rabbis. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-28.
  38. ^ Dyrness, W. A. (2013-05-29). Senses of Devotion: Interfaith Aesthetics in Buddhist and Muslim Communities. Vol. 7. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 25. ISBN 978-1620321362.

Further reading edit

External links edit

  •   Media related to Shia Holy Sites at Wikimedia Commons
  •   Media related to Twelver-specific Holy Sites at Wikimedia Commons

holiest, sites, shia, islam, both, sunni, muslims, shia, muslims, agree, three, holiest, sites, islam, being, respectively, masjid, haram, including, kaaba, mecca, masjid, nabawi, medina, masjid, aqsa, jerusalem, sacred, mosque, mecca, shia, muslims, consider,. Both Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims agree on the three holiest sites in Islam being respectively the Masjid al Haram including the Kaaba in Mecca the Al Masjid an Nabawi in Medina and the Al Masjid al Aqsa in Jerusalem The Sacred Mosque in Mecca Shia Muslims consider sites associated with Muhammad his family members Ahl al Bayt Shia imams and their family members to be holy After the three holy cities of Islam Mecca Medina Jerusalem some of the most revered sites by Shias include Najaf and Karbala in Iraq and Qom and Mashhad in Iran 1 2 Contents 1 Holy sites accepted by all Muslims 1 1 Kaaba 1 2 Al Masjid an Nabawi 1 3 Al Aqsa Mosque compound 2 Holy sites accepted by Shia Muslims 2 1 Imam Ali Shrine 2 2 Imam Husayn Shrine 2 3 Fatima Masumeh Shrine 2 4 Jamkaran Mosque 2 5 Al Sahlah Mosque 2 6 Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque 2 7 Al Abbas Shrine 2 8 Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque 2 9 Al Kadhimiya Mosque 2 10 Imam Reza Shrine 2 11 Al Askari Shrine 2 12 Mosques associated with companions of Muhammad and the Shia imams 2 13 Tombs of other family members of Muhammad 3 Holy sites specific to other Shia Muslims non Twelvers 4 Cemeteries 4 1 Al Baqi 4 2 Jannat al Mu alla Cemetery 4 3 Bab al Saghir Cemetery 4 4 Other tombs for the family of imams 5 Tombs of Biblical prophets 5 1 Other places associated with Muhammad 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksHoly sites accepted by all Muslims editMain article Holiest sites in Islam Kaaba edit Kaaba Arabic The Cube is the most sacred site in Islam It is surrounded by Masjid al Haram During the Hajj period the mosque is unable to contain the multitude of pilgrims who pray on the outlining streets More than 2 million worshippers gather to pray during Eid prayers 3 According to the teachings of Islam God in the Quran used the word mosque when referring to the sites established by Ibrahim Abraham and his progeny as houses of worship to God centuries before the revelation of the Quran The first of these spots is Masjid al Haram in Mecca and the second is Al Aqsa in Jerusalem Before Mecca and Jerusalem came under Muslim control between 630 AD and 638 AD the site of the Kaaba which was established by Abraham and Ishmael was used by non Muslim Arabs who worshipped multiple gods And when We assigned to Ibrahim the place of the House saying Do not associate with Me aught and purify My House for those who make the circuit and stand to pray and bow and prostrate themselves Quran surah 22 Al Hajj ayah 26 4 And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House Our Lord accept from us surely Thou art the Hearing the Knowing Quran surah 2 Al Baqara ayah 127 5 nbsp Al Masjid an Nabawi in Medina Al Masjid an Nabawi edit Al Masjid an Nabawi Mosque of the Prophet located in Medina Saudi Arabia is the second holiest site in Islam The edifice was originally Muhammad s house he settled there after his Hijra emigration to Medina and later built a mosque on the grounds He himself shared in the heavy work of construction The original mosque was an open air building with no gender separation The mosque also served as a community center a court and a religious school There was a raised platform for the people who taught the Quran The basic plan of the building has been adopted in the building of other mosques throughout the world The original mosque was built by Muhammad and subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque The most important feature of the site is the Green Dome over the center of the mosque where the tomb of Muhammad is located Constructed in 1817 CE and painted green in 1839 it is known as the Dome of the Prophet 6 Al Aqsa Mosque compound edit nbsp nbsp The Dome of the Rock on the left and Al Aqsa Mosque prayer hall on the right Al Aqsa Mosque Compound Haram Ash Sharif the Farthest Mosque the Noble Sanctuary is a mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem and is the third holiest site in Islam It includes the Dome of the Rock and a silver domed prayer hall also referred to in English as Aqsa Mosque 7 In Judaism the location is known as the Temple Mount the holiest site in Judaism the place where the Temple is generally accepted to have stood The Al Aqsa Mosque Compound is sacred because it was the first of the two Qiblas 8 9 Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad led prayers towards this site until the seventeenth month after the emigration when God directed him to turn towards the Kaaba Muslims believe that Muhammad was transported by the Buraq from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al Aqsa during the Night Journey The mosque is also believed by many to be the area from where Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven 10 According to some narrations a single prayer performed at this mosque is the same as having performed 500 prayers elsewhere 11 nbsp nbsp Umayyad Mosque on the left with the Minaret of Isa on the right Holy sites accepted by Shia Muslims editImam Ali Shrine edit nbsp Exterior view of Imam Ali Shrine Of the sites accepted by Shia Muslims the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf is considered the holiest Shia Muslims believe that it contains the tomb of Ali He was the cousin and son in law of Muhammad Ali is considered by Shia tradition to be the first legitimate caliph and the first imam due to the proclamation given by Muhammad The site is visited annually by at least 8 million pilgrims on average which is estimated to increase to 20 million in years to come 12 Adam and Noah are also buried within this mosque according to Shia Islam 13 14 Many Shia believe that Ali did not want his grave to be desecrated by his enemies and consequently asked his friends and family to bury him secretly This secret gravesite is supposed to have been revealed later during the Abbasid Caliphate by Ja far al Sadiq who is believed by Shia Muslims the sixth Shia imam 15 Most Shias accept that Ali is buried in the Imam Ali Mosque which is now the city of Najaf 16 Ja far al Sadiq the sixth Shia imam said that the Imam Ali Mosque is the third of five holy places Mecca Medina Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala and the shrine of Fatima Masumeh in Qom 2 God chose that land Najaf as the abode of the Prophets I swear to God that no one more honourable than the Commander of the Believers Ali has ever lived there after the time of his purified fathers Adam and Nuh 17 Ja far al Sadiq Imam Husayn Shrine edit nbsp Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala Two tall minarets of Al Abbas Shrine are also seen in the picture Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala is the second holiest site especially for Shia Muslims It contains the tomb of the Husayn the third Shia imam It also contains the tombs of Ali al Akbar ibn Husayn Ali al Asghar ibn Husayn sons of Husayn Ibrahim al Mujab grandson of Musa al Kadhim and the martyrs of Karbala The mosque stands on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali where he was martyred during the Battle of Karbala in 680 18 19 Up to a million pilgrims visit the city to observe the anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali s death 20 There are many Shia traditions which narrate the status of Karbala Karbala where your grandson and his family will be killed is the most blessed and the most sacred land on Earth and it is one of the valleys of Paradise 21 The archangel Gabriel God chose the land of Karbala as a safe and blessed sanctuary twenty four thousand years before He created the land of the Ka bah and chose it as a sanctuary Verily it Karbala will shine among the gardens of Paradise like a shining star shines among the stars for the people of Earth 22 Ali ibn al Husayn Not one night passes in which Gabriel and Michael do not go to visit him Husayn 23 Ja far al Sadiq Fatima Masumeh Shrine edit nbsp Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom The Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom Iran contains the tomb of Fatimah bint Musa sister of the eighth Shia imam Ali al Ridha Located in Qom Iran it has been considered the Fatima Masumeh Shrine to be the third holiest shrine in Shia Islam 24 The shrine has attracted to itself dozens of seminaries and religious schools 25 Jamkaran Mosque edit nbsp Jamkaran Mosque in Qom Iran The Jamkaran Mosque in Qom Iran is one of the primary significant mosques in Jamkaran Hassan ibn Muthlih Jamkarani is reported to have met the Shia s 12th imam Muhammad al Mahdi In the rear of the mosque there is a well of requests of prayers to be passed on to God Allah Pilgrims tie small strings in a knot around the grids covering the holy well which they hope will be received by the Imam Mahdi Al Sahlah Mosque edit nbsp Al Sahlah Mosque in Kufa Iraq The Al Sahlah Mosque in Kufa Iraq is said to be the future home of the Twelfth Shia imam Muhammad al Mahdi Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque edit nbsp Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque in Damascus The Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque in Damascus Syria contains the tomb of Zaynab bint Ali the daughter of Ali and Fatimah and the granddaughter of Muhammad Al Abbas Shrine edit nbsp Al Abbas Shrine in Karbala The Al Abbas Shrine is located directly across from the Imam Husayn Shrine and contains the tomb of Abbas ibn Ali son of Ali and brother of Husayn Millions of pilgrims visit the shrine and pay homage to it every year The real grave of Abbas is beneath the masoulem and is present in the shrine 26 Emperors and kings of various dynasties have offered valuable gifts and gems to the shrine of Abbas It was designed by Persian and Central Asian architects The central pear shaped dome is an ornately decorated structure On its sides stand two tall minarets The tomb is covered with pure gold and surrounded by a trellis of silver Iranian carpets are rolled out on the floors 27 Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque edit nbsp Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque in Damascus The Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque in Damascus Syria contains the tomb of Sukayna bint Husayn the youngest daughter of Husayn ibn Ali often referred to by her title Ruqayya Al Kadhimiya Mosque edit nbsp Al Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad The Al Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad Iraq contains the tombs of Musa al Kadhim seventh Shia imam and Muhammad al Jawad ninth Shia imam Some consider the mosque the third holiest in Shia Islam 28 29 Imam Reza Shrine edit nbsp Imam Reza Shrine which is visited by 12 to 15 million pilgrims every year Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad Iran contains the tomb of Ali al Ridha the eighth Shia imam Ali al Ridha is believed by members of the Shia to have been poisoned there upon the orders of Caliph Al Ma mun and the place was subsequently called Mashhad ar Ridha the place of martyrdom of Ali al Ridha By the end of the 9th century a dome was built on the grave and many buildings and bazaars sprang up around it For years totalling more than a millennium the mosque was destroyed and reconstructed several times 30 Nowadays Imam al Ridha shrine in Mashhad Iran is a complex which contains the mausoleum of Ali al Ridha the eighth Shia imam Several important theological schools are associated with the shrine of the eighth imam As a city of great religious significance it is also a place of pilgrimage It is said that the rich go to Mecca but the poor journey to Mashhad Thus even as those who complete the pilgrimage to Mecca receive the title of haji those who make the pilgrimage to Mashhad and especially to the Imam Ridha shrine are known as mashtee a term employed also of its inhabitants It is thought that over 20 million Muslims a year make the pilgrimage to Mashhad It is generally considered to be the holiest Shia shrine in Iran and is sometimes ranked as the third holiest Shia shrine in the world 31 Al Askari Shrine edit nbsp Al Askari Shrine of the 10th and 11th Twelver Shia imams The Al Askari Shrine in Samarra Iraq contains the tombs of Ali al Hadi tenth Shia imam and Hasan al Askari eleventh Shia imam Hakimah Khatun sister of Ali al Hadi and Narjis mother of Muhammad al Mahdi are also buried within the mosque The cellar from which the twelfth or Hidden imam Muhammad al Mahdi disappeared from view is also found within this mosque At the time of the Al Askari bombing in Samarra it was reported that the mosque was one of Shia Islam s holiest sites only exceeded by the shrines of Najaf and Karbala making it the third holiest Shia site 32 Mosques associated with companions of Muhammad and the Shia imams edit Tomb of Salman the Persian Hudhayfah ibn al Yaman Jabir ibn Abd Allah and Tahir ibn Muhammad al Baqir in Al Mada in Iraq Uwais al Qarni Mosque in Raqqa Syria It contains graves of Uwais al Qarni and Ammar ibn Yasir Tomb of Maytham al Tammar in Kufa Iraq nbsp Shrine of Maytham al Tammar in Kufa Tomb of Kumayl ibn Ziyad in Kufa Iraq nbsp Shrine of Kumayl ibn Ziyad in Al Hannanah Mosque Hujr ibn Adi Mosque in Adra north of Damascus Syria Shrine of Malik al Ashtar in Egypt He was one of the most loyal companions of Ali Tomb of Al Hurr ibn Yazid Al Tamimi companion of Imam Husayn who was martyred in Battle of Karbala Other several tombs and graves of companions in Iraq Iran Saudi Arabia Palestine Egypt and Yemen Al Hannanah Mosque in Kufa Iraq contains some of the skin of Husayn ibn Ali which was ripped off of him post mortem by the aggressors of Battle of Karbala Tombs of Ja far ibn Abi Talib also known as Ja far al Tayyar cousin of Muhammad and brother of Ali and Zayd ibn Harithah after their martyrdom during the battle of Battle of Mu tah located in Mu tah in Jordan Al Nuqtah Mosque in Aleppo Syria this mosque contains a large stone where the head of Husayn ibn Ali was placed while on a stop over along the journey from Karbala to Damascus Shrine of Husayn s Head destroyed in 1950 this mosque contained the head of Husayn ibn Ali for about two centuries in the middle ages nbsp Al Nuqtah Mosque in Aleppo Tombs of other family members of Muhammad edit Imamzadeh in Ganja Azerbaijan bears the grave of one of the sons of Muhammad al Baqir 33 Shrine of Muhammad ibn Ali al Hadi in Balad Iraq entombs the remains of Muhammad ibn Ali al Hadi son of Ali al Hadi Imamzadeh Saleh in Shemiran Tehran Iran entombs the remains of Saleh son of Musa al Kadhim Shah Abdol Azim Shrine in Rey Iran entombs the remains of Abdul Azim descendant of Hasan ibn Ali The mosque also contains the tombs of a son of Ali ibn al Husayn and a son of Musa al Kadhim nbsp Shah Abdol Azim Shrine in Rey Shah Cheragh in Shiraz Iran entombs the remains of Ahmad and Muhammad sons of Musa al Kadhim Imamzadeh Seyed Morteza in Kashmar Iran entombs another son of Musa al Kadhim Imamzadeh Hamzah Tabriz in Tabriz Iran entombs another son of Musa al Kadhim Imamzadeh Hamzeh Kashmar in Kashmar the tomb of Hamzah al Hamzah ibn Musa al Kadhim nbsp Imamzadeh Hamzeh Kashmar Shrine of Sultan Ali in Mashhad Ardehal Iran entombs the remains of Sultan Ali son of Muhammad al Baqir Shrine of Qutham ibn Abbas in Shah i Zinda Samarkand Uzbekistan the cousin of Muhammad Various imamzadeh scattered throughout Iran and IraqHoly sites specific to other Shia Muslims non Twelvers editShrines of the Isma ili imams Hujjas and Da i al Mutlaqs imams see List of Isma ili imams Hujjas Arwa al Sulayhi Nasir Khusraw and Da is see List of Dai of the Dawoodi Bohra Shrines of the Isma ili Da is or Missionary see List of Isma ili missionaries Ruins of the Isma ili castles see List of Isma ili castles Cemeteries editAl Baqi edit nbsp Al Baqi cemetery in Medina Al Baqi Jannat al Baqi is a cemetery located across from Al Masjid al Nabawi in Medina Saudi Arabia It is the oldest and first Islamic cemetery Holy figures of Shia buried here include Shia imams Hasan ibn Ali first grandson of Muhammad Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al Abidin Muhammad al Baqir Twelver Isma ili not Zaydi Ja far al Sadiq Twelver Isma ili Isma il ibn Ja far Isma ili Relatives of Shia figures Fatimah bint Asad mother of Ali Umm al Banin mother of Abbas ibn Ali Bibi Shahrbanu mother of Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al Abidin Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb 34 wet nurse of Muhammad Jannat al Mu alla Cemetery edit nbsp Jannat al Mu alla cemetery in Makkah The Jannat al Mu alla cemetery in Mecca Saudi Arabia contains the graves of many relatives of Muhammad held in high esteem by the Shia including Abd Manaf ibn Qusai great great grandfather of Muhammad Hashim ibn Abd Manaf great grandfather of Muhammad Abd al Muttalib grandfather of Muhammad Abu Talib ibn Abd al Muttalib uncle of Muhammad and father of the first Shia imam Ali Khadija bint Khuwaylid first wife of Muhammad and mother of Fatimah Qasim ibn Muhammad son of Muhammad who died in his infancy Possible grave of Aminah bint Wahb mother of Muhammad 35 Bab al Saghir Cemetery edit The Bab al Saghir cemetery in Damascus Syria contains the graves of many relatives of Muhammad as well as sites related to the Battle of Karbala Some of the figures laid to rest here include Umm Kulthum bint Ali daughter of Ali and Fatimah granddaughter of Muhammad Bilal ibn Rabah the muezzin of Muhammad Hamidah daughter of Muslim ibn Aqil Maymunah daughter of Hasan ibn Ali Sakinah Fatimah al Kubra bint Husayn daughter of Husayn ibn Ali not to be confused with Ruqayyah who was the youngest Asma bint Umais wife of Ja far ibn Abi Talib and Ali Abdullah ibn Ali ibn Husayn son of Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al Abidin Other tombs for the family of imams edit There are many tombs of the various descendants of the imams often called imamzadeh Some of them include nbsp Great Mosque of Kufa Great Mosque of Kufa in Kufa Iraq contains the tombs of Muslim ibn Aqil Khadijah bint Ali Hani ibn Urwa and Mukhtar al Thaqafi The mosque also contains many important sites relating to the prophets and Ali including the place where he was fatally struck on the head while in Sujud Mount Uhud near Medina Saudi Arabia bears the grave of Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib the uncle of Muhammad along with the graves of all the other Muslims who fell at the Battle of Uhud The tomb of Zayd ibn Ali in Kufa Iraq Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Zayd a descendant of Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al Abidin grandson of Zayd ibn Ali in Mashhad Iran Awlad Muslim Mosque in Musayyib Iraq entombs the remains of the sons of Muslim ibn Aqil Tombs of Biblical prophets editNabi Habeel Mosque in Syria contains the grave of Abel Arabic Habeel son of Adam and Eve as believed by many Muslims nbsp The tomb of Daniel Tomb of Daniel Daniel Daniyal who is considered to have been an Islamic prophet Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron West Bank Palestinian territories contains the graves of Abraham and some of his family Al Nabi Yusha in Upper Galilee Israel Tomb of Joshua Great Mosque of Aleppo in Aleppo Syria entombs the remains of Zechariah father of John the Baptist Tombs of prophets in Iraq Iran Syria Jordan Israel Palestine and Saudi Arabia Other places associated with Muhammad edit Quba Mosque found just outside Medina Saudi Arabia was the first mosque ever built by Muhammad 36 37 38 Its first stones were positioned by Muhammad on his emigration from the city of Mecca to Medina and was subsequently completed by his companions Muhammad then waited for Ali to arrive before he entered the city of Medina Masjid al Qiblatayn in Medina Saudi Arabia the mosque where the direction of prayer qibla was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca Cave of Hira located on the mountain Jabal al Nour in Saudi Arabia the place where the first verses of the Quran were revealed to MuhammadSee also editMukhtar al Thaqafi Bayt al Ahzan Holiest sites in Islam ZiyaratReferences edit Karbala and Najaf Shia holy cities April 2003 a b Escobar Pepe May 24 2002 Knocking on heaven s door Central Asia Russia Asia Times Online Archived from the original on June 3 2002 Retrieved 2006 11 12 our sixth imam Imam Sadeg says that we have five definitive holy places first is Mecca second is Medina third belongs to our first imam of Shia Ali which is in Najaf The fourth belongs to our third imam Hussein in Kerbala The last one belongs to the daughter of our seventh imam and sister of our eighth imam who is called Fatemah and will be buried in Qom a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Makkah the Blessed Quran 22 26 Quran 2 127 Tore Kjeilen Madina LookLex Encyclopaedia Schieck Robert 2008 in Geographical Dimension of Islamic Jerusalem Cambridge Scholars Publishing see also Omar Abdallah 2009 al Madkhal li dirasat al Masjid al Aqsa al Mubarak Beirut Dar al Kotob al Ilmiyaah also by the same author the Atlas of Al Aqsa Mosque 2010 Lindsay James 2005 Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World Greenwood Press pp 142 143 ISBN 0 313 32270 8 Wendy Doninger ed 1999 09 01 Merriam Webster s Encyclopedia of World Religions Merriam Webster p 70 ISBN 0 87779 044 2 reviewed on Google books Eyewitness Inside al Aqsa BBC News 2002 03 20 Sahih al Bukhari 2 21 288 Red tape curbs profits from Iraq religious tourism Reuters 2009 02 16 Retrieved May 9 2009 al Qummi Ja far ibn Qulawayh 2008 10 Kamil al Ziyarat trans Sayyid Mohsen al Husaini al Milani Shiabooks ca Press pp 66 67 Iraq Majlesi V 97 p 246 251 Redha Mohammad Mohammad Agha 1999 Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Imam Ali the Fourth Caliph 1 1 Volume Dar Al Kotob Al ilmiyah ISBN 2 7451 2532 X al Qummi Ja far ibn Qulawayh 2008 10 Kamil al Ziyarat trans Sayyid Mohsen al Husaini al Milani Shiabooks ca Press p 67 Shimoni amp Levine 1974 p 160 Aghaie 2004 pp 10 11 Interactive Maps Sunni amp Shia The Worlds of Islam PBS Retrieved June 9 2007 al Qummi Ja far ibn Qulawayh 2008 Addendum before chapter 89 Kamil al Ziyarat trans Sayyid Mohsen al Husaini al Milani Shiabooks ca Press p 545 al Qummi Ja far ibn Qulawayh 2008 88 Kamil al Ziyarat trans Sayyid Mohsen al Husaini al Milani Shiabooks ca Press p 534 al Qummi Ja far ibn Qulawayh 2008 88 Kamil al Ziyarat trans Sayyid Mohsen al Husaini al Milani Shiabooks ca Press p 536 Escobar Pepe May 24 2002 Knocking on heaven s door Central Asia Russia Asia Times Online Archived from the original on June 3 2002 Retrieved 2006 11 12 our sixth imam Imam Sadeg says that we have five definitive holy places that we respect very much The third belongs to our first imam of Shia Ali which is in Najaf a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Today s Top StoriesQom Province www indiasnews com Archived from the original on 2008 12 20 Retrieved 2006 12 18 Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh sister of Imam Reza one of Iran s holiest places is in Qom KaraIraviI NajmulhI asan January 1 1974 Biography of Hazrat Abbas Peermahomed Ebrahim Trust ASIN B0007AIWQW Muhammad Yousaf December 2001 Al Abbas AS Rajul Al Aqidah Wal Jehad Islamic Republic of Iran Robertson Hamish March 3 2004 Iraq suicide bombings an eyewitness account The World Today Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 2006 11 12 After the bombing of the Al Kadhimiya Mosque Middle East correspondent of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Nahlah Ayed reported that in front of the Kadhimiya Mosque the third holiest site for Shia Muslims Iraq blasts kill 143 on Shiite holy day Milwaukee Journal Sentinel March 2 2004 Retrieved 2006 11 12 After the blast all you could see was death everywhere you looked said Ahmed Kamil Ibrahim a guard at the Kazimiya shrine in Baghdad the third holiest in Shiite Islam Zabeth 1999 pp 12 16 Sacred Sites Mashhad Iran sacredsites com Archived from the original on 2010 11 27 Retrieved 2006 03 13 Gosh Aparisim March 6 2006 An Eye For an Eye Time pp Cover Story Archived from the original on June 19 2006 Retrieved 2006 11 12 That makes al Askari one of Shi ite Islam s holiest sites exceeded in veneration only by the shrines of Najaf and Karbala Even Samarra s Sunnis hold al Askari in high esteem The expression to swear by the shrine is routinely used by both communities Editor s note Quote is found on third page of article Azerbaycan Prezidentinin Resmi internet sehifesi XEBERLER Tedbirler Ilham Eliyev Gence seherindeki Imamzade kompleksinde aparilan temir berpa ve tikinti islerinin gedisi ile tanis olub Saudi Arabia al islam org Retrieved 2009 05 27 Saudi Arabia Michigan Consortium for Medieval and Early Modern Studies 1986 Goss V P Bornstein C V eds The Meeting of Two Worlds Cultural Exchange Between East and West During the Period of the Crusades Vol 21 Medieval Institute Publications Western Michigan University p 208 ISBN 0918720583 Mustafa Abu Sway The Holy Land Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque in the Qur an Sunnah and other Islamic Literary Source PDF Central Conference of American Rabbis Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 28 Dyrness W A 2013 05 29 Senses of Devotion Interfaith Aesthetics in Buddhist and Muslim Communities Vol 7 Wipf and Stock Publishers p 25 ISBN 978 1620321362 Further reading editAghaie Kamran Scot 2004 The Martyrs of Karbala Shi i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran University of Washington Press ISBN 0 295 98448 1 Majlisi Mohammad Baqer Bihar al Anwar V 97 in Arabic Zabeth Hyder Reza 1999 Landmarks of Mashhad Alhoda UK ISBN 964 444 221 0 External links edit nbsp Media related to Shia Holy Sites at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Media related to Twelver specific Holy Sites at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Holiest sites in Shia Islam amp oldid 1219049249, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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