The Shrine of Shaykh Fathi al-Mawsili (Arabic: مرقد فتحي الموصلي) is a religious complex located in Mosul, Iraq. The complex comprises a modern mosque and a 9th-century mausoleum[1] which entombs the remains of Al-Fath al-Mawsili, an ascetic and Hadith transmitter.[2] The current two buildings in the complex are modern, and were extensively reconstructed[3] after they were demolished in 2014[4] by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.[5]
| Shrine of Shaykh Fathi al-Mawsili | |
|---|---|
 The mausoleum of Shaykh Fathi, after its most recent reconstruction | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Province | Nineveh Governorate |
| Location | |
| Location | Mosul, Iraq |
| Architecture | |
| Type | mosque and mausoleum |
| Style | Seljuk, modern |
| Completed | 835-1760 (mausoleum), 2001 (mosque), 2022 (restored structure after demolition) |
| Dome(s) | 2 (3 before demolition) |
History edit
The mausoleum was built in the year 835 over the grave of Al-Fath al-Mawsili, during the time of the Seljuks.[1] It received many restorations[6] and the most notable one was a complete rebuild in the year 1760. In 2001, a new mosque was established next to the shrine by a wealthy businessman, Syed Ghannem al-Dabbagh.[1][3] The shrine was also renovated in the same year.[1]
In 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant took over the city of Mosul, and ordered the demolition of the historic shrines in the city. Local residents protected the mausoleum, but the militants returned in the night for the demolition.[4] The mausoleum of Fathi al-Mawsili was destroyed[3] with a bulldozer, and later the mosque was bulldozed as well.[4]
In 2022, the mausoleum and the adjoining mosque were completely reconstructed,[3] in a new modern architectural form. Construction work started a year prior, in 2021, but the doors were not opened until 2022.[3]
Architecture edit
Before demolition (835 - 2014) edit
The mausoleum of Shaykh Fathi consists of a room with a staircase leading downwards to a basement.[1] In the basement is the grave of Al-Fath al-Mawsili himself, and it is surmounted by a Seljuk-era ribbed dome.[1] Several niches from the Seljuk era are also present in the shrine.[1]
The prayer hall of the mosque consists of quadrilateral columns with cubic capitals.[1] There is a flat marble niche that is inscribed with verses from the Qur’an.[1] The mosque is topped by a single circular dome.[1]
After reconstruction (2022) edit
Both the mosque and the mausoleum are of a similar shape. Each building is topped by a single, tall dome. The tomb of Shaykh Fathi is located under the dome of his mausoleum, where a cement tombstone over his grave is visible.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "الگاردينيا - مجلة ثقافية عامة - محلة الشيخ فتحي في الموصل". www.algardenia.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Nováček, Karel; Melčák, Miroslav; Beránek, Ondřej; Starková, Lenka (2021-05-24). Mosul after Islamic State: The Quest for Lost Architectural Heritage. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-62636-5.
- ^ a b c d e "اعمار مرقد وضريح الشيخ فتحي في الموصل » جريدة الصباح".
- ^ a b c "مسلحو داعش يهدمون قبر الشيخ فتحي". 2017-05-20. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Heritage and cultural healing: Iraq in a post-Daesh era" (PDF). University of Reading.
- ^ "المزارات في الموصل". shiaatalmosel.yoo7.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-11-25.