The Buratha Mosque (Arabic: جامع براثا) is a historic Shi'ite place of worship in the Karkh district of Baghdad, Iraq. It is an important holy site for the Twelver Shi'ites.[1][2][3] The mosque was allegedly built in the 7th century over an old Nestorian Christian monastery, and it is now located at least five kilometres away from the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque.[4]
| Buratha Mosque | |
|---|---|
 The mosque in 2015 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Twelver Shi'a |
| Province | Baghdad Governorate |
| Location | |
| Location | Karkh, Baghdad, Iraq |
  Shown within Iraq | |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°21′03″N 44°21′40″E / 33.3508333°N 44.3611111°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Modern |
| Completed | 1955 (current structure) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1000–3000 worshippers |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
History edit
Local tradition ascribes the construction of the mosque to be in the 7th century.[3][5][6][4] The traditional account states that the mosque was formerly a monastery for the Nestorian Christians, managed by a monk named Hebar. When Hebar met with Ali ibn Abi Talib, he accepted Islam and converted the monastery into an Islamic place of worship.[3][5][6] The mosque in that form existed until the 10th century, when the Abbasid Caliph Al-Radi ordered the demolition of the mosque as an attack against the Shi'ite communities.[2] After the mosque was demolished, locals complained of the matter to the governor of Baghdad, whom rebuilt the mosque and inscribed the name of the Caliph Al-Radi there to prevent it from being demolished.[2][1]
Modern history edit
Renovations to the mosque happened in the years 1659 and 1933.[3][5][6] In 1955, the mosque was completely rebuilt with local efforts, and two new minarets were introduced to the structure.[5][3][6]
Religious significance edit
The Buratha Mosque is a significant holy place for Twelver Shi'ites due to its association with Ali ibn Abi Talib.[6][3][5] It is narrated in Shi'ite holy books that Ali rested here after a fight with the Khawarij.[6][3][5] Another miraculous event reported by the Shi'ites is that Ali struck a stone in the floor of the mosque, which revealed a fresh spring.[6][3][5]
Christian significance edit
Some have believed that the rock in the mosque belongs to the Virgin Mary.[3][5] It is also believed that Patriarch Abraham and subsequent Patriarchs after him prayed at the site, and one of such Patriarchs is buried in the mosque.[4]
2006 bombing edit
In 2006, three suicide bombers, two out of three disguised as women, detonated themselves in the mosque compound, leaving 85 dead and 160 wounded.[7] The attack was also a targeted attack against the Iraqi politician Jalaluddin al-Saghir, who was present in the mosque at the time as its main preacher. However, Saghir was not harmed by the attacks.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "The Significance of Buratha Mosque".
- ^ a b c "The Buratha Mosque".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "جامع براثا ومقام الإمام علي (عليه السلام) - موقع قسم الشؤون الدينية - العتبة العلوية المقدسة". tableegh.imamali.net. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ a b c "Historic perspective of Al-Buratha mosque – International Shia News Agency". 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "التعريف في الجامع والروايات التي تخصه". جامع براثا. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g "إطلالة تاريخية مختصرة عن تاريخ جامع بُراثا الشيعي , كهف العجائب،". web.archive.org. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
- ^ "Dozens die in Iraq mosque attack". 2006-04-07. Archived from the original on 2019-05-24. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
- ^ Life in Iraq: Day at a glance, BBC, 2006-04-07