Imam Husayn Shrine

The Shrine of Husayn ibn Ali ( _ar. مقام الامام الحسين) is a holy site of Shī'a Islam in the city of Karbala, Iraq. It stands on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali, the second grandson of Muhammad, near the place where he was killed during the Battle of Karbala in 680. [Shimoni & Levine, 1974, p. 160.] [Aghaie, 2004, pp. 10-11.] The tomb of Husayn ibn Ali is one of the holiest places for Shias outside of Mecca and Medina, and many make pilgrimages to the site. Up to a million pilgrims visit the city to observe Ashura, which marks the anniversary of Husayn ibn Ali's death. [ [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/iran/map2.html Interactive Maps: Sunni & Shia: The Worlds of Islam] , PBS, accessed 9 June, 2007.]

The Sunni Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs prevented construction of the shrines and discouraged pilgrimage to the sites.al Musawi, 2006, p. 51.] The tomb and its annexes were destroyed by Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 850-851 and Shi'a pilgrimage was prohibited, but shrines in Karbala and Najaf were built by the Buwayhid emir 'Adud al-Daula in in 979-80. [Litvak, 1998, p. 16.]

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, and through the gates there is a precinct surrounded by small rooms called "Iwans".

Husayn's grave is located in the middle of the precinct, surrounded by square shaped structures called "Rawaq". The grave itself is located in the middle of the Zari with golden windows around it, with ornate illumination.

Karbala: origin and meaning

There are many opinions among different investigators, as to the origin of the word "Karbala". Some have pointed out that "Karbala" has a connection to the "Karbalato" language, while others attempt to derive the meaning of word "Karbala" by analysing its spelling and language. They conclude that it originates from the Arabic word "Kar Babel" which was a group of ancient Babylonian villages that included Nainawa, Al-Ghadiriyya, Karbella, Al-Nawaweess, and Al-Heer. This last name is today known as Al-Hair and is where Hussain ibn Ali’s grave is located.

The investigator Yaqut al-Hamawy had pointed out that the meaning of "Karbala" could have several explanations, one of which is that the place where Hussain ibn Ali was martyred is made of soft earth - "Al-Karbalat".

Other writers made the connection between the name and the disastrous event which painted the desert with blood, and so the word "Karbala" was said to compose of two Arabic words: "Karb" meaning grief and sorrow, and "Balaa" meaning affliction. Such a connection, in fact, has no scientific evidence, since Karbala was known as such even before the arrival of Hussain ibn Ali.

Martyrdom and popularity

Karbala was at first an uninhabited place and did not witness any construction activity, although it was rich in water and its soil fertile.

From the time of Hussain ibn Ali's death in 680 pilgrimages to commemorate the massacre have often been repressed.

Despite many attempts by successive rulers, such as Al-Rashid and Al-Mutawakkil, to put a restriction on the development of this area, it has nonetheless spread with time to become a city.

Mausoleum of Hussain ibn Ali

The historian Ibn Kuluwayh mentioned that those who buried Hussain ibn Ali, made a special and rigid construction with signs above the grave.

Higher and bigger constructions above the grave started during the ruling of Al-Saffah, but Harun al-Rashid later on, put heavy restrictions to prevent people from visiting the grave.

At the time of Al-Mamun, construction around the grave resumed until the year 236 AH when Al-Mutawakkil ordered the destruction and digging of the grave, and then filling the pit with water. His son, who succeeded him, allowed people to visit the grave site, and since then building the precinct to the grave increased and developed step by step.

On the other hand, the historian Ibn Al-Athir, stated that in the year 371 AH, Aadod Al-Dawla Al-Boowayhi became the first to largely lay the foundations for large scale construction, and generously decorated the place. He also built houses and markets around the precinct, and surrounded Karbala with a high boundary wall turning it into a strong castle.

In the year 407 AH, the precinct caught fire due to the dropping of two large candles on the wooden decorations, but Hassan ibn Fadl (the state minister) rebuilt the damaged sections.

History has recorded the names of several rulers who shared the honor of widening, decorating or keeping the precinct in good condition. Amongst them is Fateh Ali al-Qajari, who in 1250 AH ordered the construction of two domes, one over Hussain ibn Ali's grave and the other over his brother Abbas ibn Ali.

The first dome is 27 meters high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with 12 windows, each of which is about 1.25 m away from the other, from the inside, and 1.30 m from the outside.

The mausoleum has an area of 59 m / 75 m with ten gates, and about 65 rooms, well decorated from the inside and outside, used as classrooms for studying.

As for the grave itself, in the middle of the precinct, it is called the "Rawda" or garden and it has several doors. 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, to the right hand side. Habib was a friend and companion of Husayn since their childhood. He was one of those who were honored with martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala.

Within the shrine of 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 Husayn's grave. As well, beside Husayn's 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 one of the grandsons of the Twelver Shi'a's seventh Imam, who spent his life preaching about Karbala.

Timeline

*680 October 10: Husayn is said to have been buried on this day.
*684: A mosque was built by Mukhtar ibn Abu `Ubayd ath-Thaqafi on the spot and a dome was created over the grave. Two entrance gates were made for the mosque.
*749: Another dome was erected over the mosque and additional two gates for entrance were made at the mausoleum during the reign of Abbasid Caliph as-Saffah.
*763: During the reign of Caliph al-Mansur the roof, including domes, was destroyed.
*774: The demolished roof was rebuilt during the reign of Caliph al-Mahdi.
*787: During the reign of Caliph Harun ar-Rashid, the mausoleum was destroyed and the plum tree that stood besides the grave of Husayn was cut down.
*808: The mausoleum was reconstructed during the reign of al-Amin.
*850: Caliph al-Mutawakkil destroyed the mausoleum and ordered the nearby land, including the grave, to be ploughed.
*861: Al-Muntasir reconstructed the shrine with an iron pillar.
*886: Once again the mausoleum was destroyed.
*893: The shrine was rebuilt by the Alid council and two minarets were constructed on either side of the grave. Two entrance gates for the shrine were also constructed.
*977: A sepulcher was constructed within the shrine of teak wood by the Buwayhid emir `Adud ad-Dawlah. Surrounding galleries were also constructed. He also constructed the city of Karbala by making houses and the city boundary. 'Imran ibn Shahin at that time also constructed a mosque adjacent to the shrine.
*1016: Fire destroyed the shrine. The vizier Hasan ibn Fadl rebuilt the structure.
*1223: The sepulcher was renovated by an-Nasir li-Din Allah.
*1365: The dome and walls of the shrine were reconstructed by Sultan `Uways ibn Hasan Jalayiri.
*1384: The two minarets were reconstructed of gold by Sultan Ahmad ibn `Uways. The courtyard was also extended.
*1514: The Safavid shah of Iran Ismail I constructed a sarcophagus of inlaid work over the real grave.
*1622: Abbas Shah Safavi renovated the sarcophagus with brass and bronze and also the dome with Kashi tiles.
*1638: Sultan Murad IV whitewashed the dome.
*1742: Nadir Shah Afshar decorated the shrine and offered expensive gems to the treasury of the shrine.
*1796: Aqa Muhammad Shah Qajar plastered the dome with pure gold.
*1801: Wahhabis attacked Karbala, damaged the shrine, and looted the sepulchre.
*1817: Fath Ali Shah Qajar reconstructed the screens by plating with silver. He also replated the dome with gold and therefore repaired the damage caused by the Wahhabis.
*1866: Nasir ad-Din Shah Qajar broadened the courtyard of the mausoleum.
*1939: Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin, of the Dawoodi Bohra community presented a set of solid silver screens with gold which were attached to the shrine.
*1941: The western minaret was rebuilt by Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
*1948: 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.
*1991: The city experiences a violent uprising against the regime of Saddam Hussein following the Persian Gulf War.

ee also

*Arba'een
*Holiest sites in Islam
*Jannatul Baqee'
*Jannatul Mualla
*Baab Sagheer

Notes

References

*Aghaie, Kamran Scot (2004). "The Martyrs of Karbala: Shi'i Symbols and Rituals in Modern Iran". University of Washington Press. ISBN 0295984481
*Litvak, Meir (1998). "Shi'i Scholars of Nineteenth-Century Iraq: The Ulama of Najaf and Karbala". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521892961
*al Musawi, Muhsin (2006). "Reading Iraq: Culture and Power and Conflict". I.B.Tauris. ISBN 1845110706
*Shimoni, Yaacov & Levine, Evyatar (1974). "Political Dictionary of the Middle East in the 20th Century". Quadrangle/New York Times Book Co.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6435285.stm In pictures: Pilgrims in Karbala] - BBC News Online.
* [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/iraq/karbala.htm Shia Shrines of Karbala] - Sacred Destinations