Imam Ali Shrine: Difference between revisions

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| caption              = Imām 'Alī Shrine, where [[Ali ibn Abi Talib|'Alī ibn Abī Tālib]] is buried
| caption              = Imam Ali Shrine, where [[Ali]] is believed to be buried
| map_type              = Iraq
| map_type              = Iraq
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| architect            = [[Baha' al-din al-'Amili]]
| architect            = [[Baha' al-din al-'Amili]]
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| architecture_type    =  
| architecture_style    = [[Safavid art|Safavid Iranian]]
| architecture_style    = [[Islamic Architecture]]
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{{Ali}}
{{Ali}}
The '''Sanctuary of Imām 'Alī''' ({{langx|ar|حَرَم ٱلْإِمَام عَلِيّ |Ḥaram al-ʾImām ʿAlī}}), also known as the '''Mosque of 'Alī''' ({{langx|ar|مَسْجِد عَلِيّ|Masjid ʿAlī}}), located in [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]], is a [[mausoleum]] which Shia and Sunni Muslims believe contains the tomb of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib|'Alī ibn Abī Tālib]], a cousin, son-in-law and companion of the [[Islamic prophet|Islamic Prophet]] [[Muhammad]]. The Shī'as consider 'Alī as their first Imām and the first of the twelve caliphs of Muhammad, and the [[Sunni Islam|Sunnis]] regard him as the fourth [[Rashidun|Sunni Rashid Caliph]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Ali|date=2021-04-25|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali&oldid=1019867885|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref> According to Shī'ite belief,<ref name="kamil">{{cite book|last=al-Qummi|first=Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh|title=Kāmil al-Ziyārāt|year=2008|publisher=Shiabooks.ca Press|pages=66–67}}</ref> buried next to 'Alī within this mosque are the remains of [[Adam in Islam|Adam]] and [[Noah in Islam|Nuh]] ([[Noah]]).<ref name="kamil" /><ref name="al-islam.org">[http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/iraq.htm#Najaf ''Al-Islam.org'']</ref> Each year, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine and pay tribute to Imām 'Alī.
The '''Imam Ali Shrine''' ({{langx|ar|حَرَم ٱلْإِمَام عَلِيّ |Ḥaram al-ʾImām ʿAlī}}), also known as the '''Mosque of Ali''' ({{langx|ar|مَسْجِد عَلِيّ|Masjid ʿAlī}}), located in [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]], is a [[mausoleum]] which [[Shia]] and [[Sunni Muslims]] believe contains the tomb of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], a cousin, son-in-law and companion of the [[Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]]. The Shias consider Ali as their first [[imam]] and the first of the twelve caliphs of Muhammad, and the Sunnis regard him as the fourth [[Rashidun|Sunni Rashid Caliph]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Ali|date=2021-04-25|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali&oldid=1019867885|work=Wikipedia|language=en|access-date=2021-04-28}}</ref> According to Shia belief,<ref name="kamil">{{cite book|last=al-Qummi|first=Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh|title=Kāmil al-Ziyārāt|year=2008|publisher=Shiabooks.ca Press|pages=66–67}}</ref> buried next to Ali within this mosque are the remains of [[Adam in Islam|Adam]] and [[Noah in Islam|Nuh]] ([[Noah]]).<ref name="kamil" /><ref name="al-islam.org">[http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/iraq.htm#Najaf ''Al-Islam.org'']</ref> Each year, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine and pay tribute to Imam Ali.


The shrine monument has been built and rebuilt numerous times throughout history;<ref>{{Cite web |title=عمارات المرقد العلوي المطهر |url=https://imamali.net/?id=4365 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=العتبة العلوية المقدسة}}</ref> the current shrine dates back to the mid-[[Safavid Iran|Safavid]] period. Its construction began in 1621 under the orders of [[Abbas the Great|Shah Abbas the Great]] and was completed in 1631 after his death. [[Baha' al-din al-'Amili]] was appointed as the architect and the structure was designed in the classical Safavid Persian style. Over time the shrine has undergone various notable renovations aimed to enhance its beauty and grandeur, most notably the gilding of the dome and minarets of the shrine in 1743 by [[Nader Shah|Nader Shah Afshar]].
The shrine monument has been built and rebuilt numerous times throughout history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=عمارات المرقد العلوي المطهر |url=https://imamali.net/?id=4365 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=العتبة العلوية المقدسة}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[File:Najaf-Iraq 1932.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The shrine of Imām 'Alī as with its [[mosque]], [[dome]], and [[minaret]]s in 1932]]
[[File:Najaf-Iraq 1932.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The Shrine of Imam Ali with its [[mosque]], [[dome]], and [[minaret]]s in 1932]]
The [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid caliph]] [[Harun al-Rashid]] built the first structure over the tomb of Imām 'Alī in 786, which included a green dome.
The [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid caliph]] [[Harun al-Rashid]] built the first structure over the tomb of Imam Ali in 786, which included a green dome.


The [[Abbasid dynasty|Abbasid]] caliph [[al-Mutawakkil]] flooded the site in 850, but in the 10th century Abu'l-Hayja, the [[Hamdanid dynasty|Hamdanid]] [[List of rulers of Mosul|ruler of Mosul]] and [[Aleppo]], rebuilt the shrine in 923, which included a large dome.
The [[Abbasid dynasty|Abbasid]] caliph [[al-Mutawakkil]] flooded the site in 850, but in the 10th century Abu'l-Hayja, the [[Hamdanid dynasty|Hamdanid]] [[List of rulers of Mosul|ruler of Mosul]] and [[Aleppo]], rebuilt the shrine in 923, which included a large dome.
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==Architecture and decoration==
==Architecture and decoration==
Numerous structures have existed over the tomb of Imam Ali since its discovery during the rule of [[Harun al-Rashid|Harun al Rashid]] in the 8th century. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Al Islam {{!}} History of the shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib |url=https://www.al-islam.org/history-shrines/history-shrine-imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-peace-be-upon-him |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726213133/https://www.al-islam.org/history-shrines/history-shrine-imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-peace-be-upon-him |archive-date=2022-07-26 |website=Al-Islam.org}}</ref>  The current structure though dates back to the Safavid period in the 17th century and was designed by the famous Safavid polymath [[Baha' al-din al-'Amili]]. The shrine consists of the central tomb chamber topped by a large double shell onion-shaped dome 42 m (138 ft) in height, and flanked by twin 38 m (125 ft) tall minarets.<ref name="UNESCO" />{{rp|88–91}} The inner shell of the dome is visible from the inside of the tomb chamber while the monumental outer shell is visible from the courtyard of the shrine and throughout the city. <ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Abid |first=Sadiq |date=July 2015 |title=Imam Ali Shrine, Institution and Cultural Monument: The implications of cultural significance and its impact on local conservation management |url=https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-the-built-environment/153/34249 |journal=WIT Transactions on the Built Environment |volume=153 |pages=87-97 |via=WIT Press}}</ref> The inside of the tomb chamber and its surrounding halls are ornamented with an array of mirror mosaics, most of which has been replaced over the years and are not original. The ceramic mosaics that adorn the inner shell of the dome however are original and date back to the original construction of the shrine during the Safavid period. At the front of the shrine stands a large golden [[iwan]] flanked by two minarets. The monumental dome, iwan, and minarets are adorned with gold coated copper plates, though they were originally adorned with green and blue ceramic tiles in the typical Safavid fashion. The gilding of the shrines dome and façade elements occurred in 1743 under the orders of the Iranian king [[Nader Shah|Nader Shah Afshar]] and his wife Razia Begum. The golden iwan, dome, and minarets contains numerous inscriptions in Persian, Arabic, and Azeri Turkish with poems in praise of [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]] inscriptions chronicling the gilding of the shrine by Nader Shah.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bahrami |first=AliReza |date=June 26, 2016 |title=ارادت "طلایی" نادرشاه به حضرت علی |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/95040102941/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B9 |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=ISNA}}</ref> The left and right side walls of the shrine are ornamented with [[cuerda seca]] tile panels most of which date from either the 18th or 19th centuries. Imam Ali's shrine is among the last of the Shi'ite shrines in Iraq to retains its nearly full set of original antique tiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 8, 2022 |title=The Shrine of Imam Ali – Between Two Different Areas |url=https://persianarcharchives.org/2022/03/08/the-shrine-of-imam-ali-between-two-different-areas/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=Persian Architecture Archives}}</ref>
Numerous structures have existed over the tomb of Imam Ali since its discovery during the rule of [[Harun al-Rashid|Harun al Rashid]] in the 8th century. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Al Islam {{!}} History of the shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib |url=https://www.al-islam.org/history-shrines/history-shrine-imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-peace-be-upon-him |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726213133/https://www.al-islam.org/history-shrines/history-shrine-imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-peace-be-upon-him |archive-date=2022-07-26 |website=Al-Islam.org}}</ref>  The current structure though dates back to the Safavid period in the 17th century and was designed by the famous polymath [[Baha' al-din al-'Amili]]. The shrine consists of the central tomb chamber topped by a large double shell onion-shaped dome 42 m (138 ft) in height, and flanked by twin 38 m (125 ft) tall minarets.<ref name="UNESCO" />{{rp|88–91}} The inner shell of the dome is visible from the inside of the tomb chamber while the monumental outer shell is visible from the courtyard of the shrine and throughout the city. <ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Abid |first=Sadiq |date=July 2015 |title=Imam Ali Shrine, Institution and Cultural Monument: The implications of cultural significance and its impact on local conservation management |url=https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-the-built-environment/153/34249 |journal=WIT Transactions on the Built Environment |volume=153 |pages=87-97 |via=WIT Press}}</ref> The inside of the tomb chamber and its surrounding halls are ornamented with an array of mirror mosaics, most of which has been replaced over the years and are not original. The ceramic mosaics that adorn the inner shell of the dome however are original and date back to the original construction of the shrine during the Safavid period. At the front of the shrine stands a large golden [[iwan]] flanked by two minarets. The monumental dome, iwan, and minarets are adorned with gold coated copper plates, though they were originally adorned with green and blue ceramic tiles in the typical Safavid fashion. The gilding of the shrines dome and façade elements occurred in 1743 under the orders of the Iranian king [[Nader Shah|Nader Shah Afshar]] and his wife Razia Begum. The golden iwan, dome, and minarets contains numerous inscriptions in Persian, Arabic, and Azeri Turkish with poems in praise of [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]] inscriptions chronicling the gilding of the shrine by Nader Shah.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bahrami |first=AliReza |date=June 26, 2016 |title=ارادت "طلایی" نادرشاه به حضرت علی |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/95040102941/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AA-%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B9 |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=ISNA}}</ref> The left and right side walls of the shrine are ornamented with [[cuerda seca]] tile panels most of which date from either the 18th or 19th centuries. Imam Ali's shrine is among the last of the Shi'ite shrines in Iraq to retains its nearly full set of original antique tiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 8, 2022 |title=The Shrine of Imam Ali – Between Two Different Areas |url=https://persianarcharchives.org/2022/03/08/the-shrine-of-imam-ali-between-two-different-areas/ |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=Persian Architecture Archives}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2025}}


Around the shrine on its North, East, and Southern sides is a large courtyard surrounded by pointed arch [[Arcade (architecture)|arcades]], while the shrine is linked on the West to the Al-Ra's Mosque. The courtyard arcades are two floors in height and contain various small chambers historically used as dormitory rooms for seminary students, today most are used as administrative offices. The Al-Ras mosque (literally "The Head Mosque") is oriented in the direction of the head of [[Ali|Ali Ibn Abi Talib's]] grave. The original Al-Ras mosque is said to have dated from the [[Ilkhanate|Ilhanate]] period in 14th century however it was demolished in 2005 by the shrine's administration and rebuilt in a modern style using contemporary construction materials and methods. Local architectural historians and preservationists have argued the destruction of the original Al-Ras mosque destroyed an important part of the shrine's architectural heritage and the introduction of modern construction methods and materials has damaged the architectural integrity of the shrine.<ref name=":0" /> The original Ilkhanate era mihrab of the Al-Ras mosque underwent restoration in 2023 after having been kept in storage for 18 years and will be put on display in the shrine's museum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2023 |title=محراب ایرانی حرم امام علی (ع) مرمت شد |url=https://atabat.org/fa/news/6015/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%AF |website=Atabat.org}}</ref>
Around the shrine on its North, East, and Southern sides is a large courtyard surrounded by pointed arch [[Arcade (architecture)|arcades]], while the shrine is linked on the West to the Al-Ra's Mosque. The courtyard arcades are two floors in height and contain various small chambers historically used as dormitory rooms for seminary students, today most are used as administrative offices. The Al-Ras mosque (literally "The Head Mosque") is oriented in the direction of the head of [[Ali|Ali Ibn Abi Talib's]] grave. The original Al-Ras mosque is said to have dated from the [[Ilkhanate|Ilhanate]] period in 14th century however it was demolished in 2005 by the shrine's administration and rebuilt in a modern style using contemporary construction materials and methods. Local architectural historians and preservationists have argued the destruction of the original Al-Ras mosque destroyed an important part of the shrine's architectural heritage and the introduction of modern construction methods and materials has damaged the architectural integrity of the shrine.<ref name=":0" /> The original Ilkhanate era mihrab of the Al-Ras mosque underwent restoration in 2023 after having been kept in storage for 18 years and will be put on display in the shrine's museum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2023 |title=محراب ایرانی حرم امام علی (ع) مرمت شد |url=https://atabat.org/fa/news/6015/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B9-%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%AA-%D8%B4%D8%AF |website=Atabat.org}}</ref>
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==Religious status and precincts==
==Religious status and precincts==
[[File:ImamAliMosqueNajafIraq.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The shrine of Imām 'Alī in 2005]]
[[File:ImamAliMosqueNajafIraq.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The Shrine of Imam Ali in 2005]]


As the burial site of one of [[Islam]]'s most important figures,<ref name="Never Again!">''[http://www.shianews.com/hi/articles/politics/0000382.php Never Again!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805175642/http://www.shianews.com/hi/articles/politics/0000382.php |date=2007-08-05 }}'' ShiaNews.com</ref> the shrine of Imām 'Alī is considered by all Shī'a Muslims as the [[Holiest sites in Shia Islam|fourth holiest Islamic site]].<ref name="Never Again!"/><ref name="atimes.com">''[https://web.archive.org/web/20020603155002/http://atimes.com/c-asia/DE24Ag04.html Iran Diary, Part 2: Knocking on heaven's door]'' Asia Times Online</ref><ref>[http://www.chnphoto.ir/gallery.php?gallery_uid=187&lang=en Muslim Shia's Saint Imam Ali Holy Shrine - 16 Images] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905090748/http://www.chnphoto.ir/gallery.php?gallery_uid=187&lang=en |date=2010-09-05 }} Cultural Heritage Photo Agency</ref><ref>''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100918084430/http://www.modarresinews.com/artc.php?id=75%2F The tragic martyrdom of Ayatollah Al Hakim calls for a stance]}}'' Modarresi News, September 4, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20040813&hn=11401/ Zaman Online, August 13, 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028164619/http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international |date=October 28, 2006 }}</ref><ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/Iraq/Story/0,,926947,00.html/ Why 2003 is not 1991]'' The Guardian, April 1, 2003</ref> The [[Boston Globe]] reports "for the Muslim Shias, Najaf is the ''fourth holiest city'', behind [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine."<ref name="boston.com">''[http://www.boston.com/news/daily/02/war_shrine.htm/ Iraqi forces in Najaf take cover in important Shia shrine]'' The Boston Globe, April 2, 2003</ref><ref>''[http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/23/sprj.nilaw.religious.rivalry/index.html/ Religious rivalries and political overtones in Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611161414/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/23/sprj.nilaw.religious.rivalry/index.html |date=2009-06-11 }}'' CNN.com, April 23, 2003]</ref><ref>[http://www.uga.edu/islam/iraq.html#misc "Miscellaneous Relevant Links"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006170511/http://www.uga.edu/islam/iraq.html#misc |date=2011-10-06 }} Muslims, Islam, and Iraq]</ref> It is estimated that only [[Karbala]], Mecca, and Medina receive more [[Pilgrimage#Islam|Muslim pilgrims]].<ref name="boston.com"/> A ''[[hadith]]'' attributed to [[Ja'far al-Sadiq|Ja'far as-Sādiq]], the [[Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)|Sixth Imami Shī'ite Imām]], mentions the site as one of "five definitive holy places that we respect very much".<ref name="atimes.com"/>
As the burial site of one of [[Islam]]'s most important figures,<ref name="Never Again!">''[http://www.shianews.com/hi/articles/politics/0000382.php Never Again!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805175642/http://www.shianews.com/hi/articles/politics/0000382.php |date=2007-08-05 }}'' ShiaNews.com</ref> the Shrine of Imam Ali is considered by all Shia Muslims as the [[Holiest sites in Shia Islam|fourth holiest Islamic site]].<ref name="Never Again!"/><ref name="atimes.com">''[https://web.archive.org/web/20020603155002/http://atimes.com/c-asia/DE24Ag04.html Iran Diary, Part 2: Knocking on heaven's door]'' Asia Times Online</ref><ref>[http://www.chnphoto.ir/gallery.php?gallery_uid=187&lang=en Muslim Shia's Saint Imam Ali Holy Shrine - 16 Images] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905090748/http://www.chnphoto.ir/gallery.php?gallery_uid=187&lang=en |date=2010-09-05 }} Cultural Heritage Photo Agency</ref><ref>''{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100918084430/http://www.modarresinews.com/artc.php?id=75%2F The tragic martyrdom of Ayatollah Al Hakim calls for a stance]}}'' Modarresi News, September 4, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20040813&hn=11401/ Zaman Online, August 13, 2004] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028164619/http://www.zaman.org/?bl=international |date=October 28, 2006 }}</ref><ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/Iraq/Story/0,,926947,00.html/ Why 2003 is not 1991]'' The Guardian, April 1, 2003</ref> The [[Boston Globe]] reports "for the Muslim Shias, Najaf is the ''fourth holiest city'', behind [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine."<ref name="boston.com">''[http://www.boston.com/news/daily/02/war_shrine.htm/ Iraqi forces in Najaf take cover in important Shia shrine]'' The Boston Globe, April 2, 2003</ref><ref>''[http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/23/sprj.nilaw.religious.rivalry/index.html/ Religious rivalries and political overtones in Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611161414/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/23/sprj.nilaw.religious.rivalry/index.html |date=2009-06-11 }}'' CNN.com, April 23, 2003]</ref><ref>[http://www.uga.edu/islam/iraq.html#misc "Miscellaneous Relevant Links"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006170511/http://www.uga.edu/islam/iraq.html#misc |date=2011-10-06 }} Muslims, Islam, and Iraq]</ref> It is estimated that only [[Karbala]], Mecca, and Medina receive more [[Pilgrimage#Islam|Muslim pilgrims]].<ref name="boston.com"/> A ''[[hadith]]'' attributed to [[Ja'far al-Sadiq|Ja'far as-Sādiq]], the [[Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)|Sixth Imami Shī'ite Imām]], mentions the site as one of "five definitive holy places that we respect very much".<ref name="atimes.com"/>


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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE51F1ZH20090216?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title=Red tape curbs profits from Iraq religious tourism |access-date=May 9, 2009 |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-02-16}}</ref> Many Shī'ites believe that 'Alī 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 as-Sādiq.<ref>Majlesi, V.97, p. 246–251</ref> Most Shī'ites accept that 'Alī is buried in Imām 'Alī Mosque, in what is now the city of Najaf, which grew around the shrine.<ref name="Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib">{{cite book|last=Redha|first=Mohammad|author2=Mohammad Agha|title=Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (Imam Ali the Fourth Caliph, 1/1 Volume)|publisher=Dar Al Kotob Al ilmiyah|year=1999|isbn=2-7451-2532-X}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE51F1ZH20090216?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 |title=Red tape curbs profits from Iraq religious tourism |access-date=May 9, 2009 |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-02-16}}</ref> Many Shiites 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 as-Sādiq.<ref>Majlesi, V.97, p. 246–251</ref> Most Shī'ites accept that Ali is buried in Imām Ali Mosque, in what is now the city of Najaf, which grew around the shrine.<ref name="Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib">{{cite book|last=Redha|first=Mohammad|author2=Mohammad Agha|title=Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (Imam Ali the Fourth Caliph, 1/1 Volume)|publisher=Dar Al Kotob Al ilmiyah|year=1999|isbn=2-7451-2532-X}}</ref>


As-Sādiq said that Imām 'Alī Mosque is the third of five [[Holiest sites in Shia Islam|holiest Islamic sites]]: Mecca, Medina, Imām 'Alī Mosque in Najaf, [[Imam Husayn Shrine]] in Karbalā, and the [[Fatima Masumeh Shrine|Shrine]] of his daughter [[Fatema Mæ'sume|Fāṭimah]] in [[Qom]].<ref name="Sardeg">{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DE24Ag04.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603155002/http://atimes.com/c-asia/DE24Ag04.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2002|title=Knocking on heaven's door|access-date=2006-11-12|last=Escobar|first=Pepe|date=May 24, 2002|work=Central Asia/Russia|publisher=[[Asia Times Online]]|quote=According to a famous hadith (saying)...'our sixth Imam, Imam Sadeg, says that we have five definitive holy places that we respect very much. The first is Mecca... second is Medina... third belongs to our first Imam of the 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.'}}</ref>
As-Sādiq said that Imam Ali Mosque is the third of five [[Holiest sites in Shia Islam|holiest Islamic sites]]: Mecca, Medina, Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, [[Imam Husayn Shrine]] in Karbalā, and the [[Fatima Masumeh Shrine|Shrine]] of his daughter [[Fatema Mæ'sume|Fāṭimah]] in [[Qom]].<ref name="Sardeg">{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DE24Ag04.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603155002/http://atimes.com/c-asia/DE24Ag04.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2002|title=Knocking on heaven's door|access-date=2006-11-12|last=Escobar|first=Pepe|date=May 24, 2002|work=Central Asia/Russia|publisher=[[Asia Times Online]]|quote=According to a famous hadith (saying)...'our sixth Imam, Imam Sadeg, says that we have five definitive holy places that we respect very much. The first is Mecca... second is Medina... third belongs to our first Imam of the 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.'}}</ref>


{{cquote|"God chose that land [Najaf] as the abode of the Prophets. I swear to God that no one more honourable than the [[Shi'a view of Ali|Commander of the Believers]] [Ali] has ever lived there after (the time of) his purified fathers, [[Adam and Eve|Ādam]] and Nuh."<ref>{{cite book|last=al-Qummi|first=Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh|others=trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni|title=Kāmil al-Ziyārāt|year=2008|publisher=Shiabooks.ca Press|page=67|chapter=10}}</ref>|author=[[Ja'far al-Sadiq|Ja'far as-Sādiq]]}}
{{cquote|"God chose that land [Najaf] as the abode of the Prophets. I swear to God that no one more honourable than the [[Shi'a view of Ali|Commander of the Believers]] [Ali] has ever lived there after (the time of) his purified fathers, [[Adam and Eve|Ādam]] and Nuh."<ref>{{cite book|last=al-Qummi|first=Ja'far ibn Qūlawayh|others=trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni|title=Kāmil al-Ziyārāt|year=2008|publisher=Shiabooks.ca Press|page=67|chapter=10}}</ref>|author=[[Ja'far al-Sadiq|Ja'far as-Sādiq]]}}
Line 124: Line 124:
<gallery mode=packed>
<gallery mode=packed>
Najaf City.jpg|An aerial view of the mosque
Najaf City.jpg|An aerial view of the mosque
InsideImamAliMosqueNajafIraq.JPG|[[Zarih|Ḍarīẖ]] which covering the ''[[Qabr]]'' (''grave'') of [[Imamate in Shia doctrine|Imam]] [[Ali]]
InsideImamAliMosqueNajafIraq.JPG|''[[Zarih]]'' covering the ''[[qabr]]'' (grave) of Imam Ali
Najaf-Ali ibn Abi Talib.jpg|The Golden [[Iwan]] of [[Imamate in Shia doctrine|Imam]] [[Ali]] Shrine
Najaf-Ali ibn Abi Talib.jpg|The golden ''[[iwan]]'' of the Imam Ali Shrine
9-(Flower arrangement of the shrine of Hazrat Ali on the eve of her birth with the blessing of the pious Mullah)-گُل‌آرایی حرم حضرت علی(ع) در آستانه ولادت با سعادت مولای متقیان.jpg|Flower arrangement of the shrine of Imam [[Ali]] on the eve of his birth
9-(Flower arrangement of the shrine of Hazrat Ali on the eve of her birth with the blessing of the pious Mullah)-گُل‌آرایی حرم حضرت علی(ع) در آستانه ولادت با سعادت مولای متقیان.jpg|Flower arrangement of the shrine of Imam [[Ali]] on the eve of his birth
Imam Ali Shrine - 1994.jpg|Imam Ali Shrine - 1994 AD
Imam Ali Shrine - 1994.jpg|Imam Ali Shrine in 1994  
This photo is in Iraq, the Najaf region, inside the shrine of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, where the cousin of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad and his son-in-law are buried.jpg|Inside the shrine of [[Imamate in Shia doctrine|Imam]] [[Ali]]
This photo is in Iraq, the Najaf region, inside the shrine of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, where the cousin of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad and his son-in-law are buried.jpg|Inside the Imam Ali Shrine
</gallery>
</gallery>


Revision as of 12:03, 19 June 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Infobox religious building Template:Ali The Imam Ali Shrine (Template:Langx), also known as the Mosque of Ali (Template:Langx), located in Najaf, Iraq, is a mausoleum which Shia and Sunni Muslims believe contains the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, a cousin, son-in-law and companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Shias consider Ali as their first imam and the first of the twelve caliphs of Muhammad, and the Sunnis regard him as the fourth Sunni Rashid Caliph.[1] According to Shia belief,[2] buried next to Ali within this mosque are the remains of Adam and Nuh (Noah).[2][3] Each year, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine and pay tribute to Imam Ali.

The shrine monument has been built and rebuilt numerous times throughout history.[4]

History

File:Najaf-Iraq 1932.jpg
The Shrine of Imam Ali with its mosque, dome, and minarets in 1932

The Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid built the first structure over the tomb of Imam Ali in 786, which included a green dome.

The Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil flooded the site in 850, but in the 10th century Abu'l-Hayja, the Hamdanid ruler of Mosul and Aleppo, rebuilt the shrine in 923, which included a large dome.

In 979–980, the Shi'ite Buyid emir 'Adud al-Dawla expanded the shrine, which included a cenotaph over the burial site and a new dome. This included hanging textiles and carpets. He also protected Najaf with a wall and citadel, while providing water from the Euphrates via a qanat.

The Seljuq sultan Malik-Shah I contributed large gifts to the shrine in 1086, as did Caliph Al-Nasir.

The vizier Shams al-Din Juvayni added facilities to serve the pilgrims in 1267, and the sultan Ghazan Khan added the Dar al-Siyada wing for the sayyids in 1303.

Ibn Battuta visited the shrine in 1326, noting that it was "carpeted with various sorts of carpets of silk and other materials, and contains candelabra of gold and silver, large and small." Between the three tombs, "are dishes of gold and silver, containing rose-water, musk and various kinds of perfumes. The visitor dips his hand in this and anoints his face with it for a blessing."[5] A fire destroyed the shrine in 1354, but it was rebuilt around 1358 by the Jalairid sultan Shaikh Awais Jalayir. He also interred his father's remains, Hasan Buzurg in the courtyard. Timur ordered the restoration of the shrine after a visit to Najaf. Suleiman the Magnificent also offered gifts, which probably helped restore the shrine, after a visit in 1534. The Safavid Shah Ismail I visited in 1508, but it was Abbas I who visited Najaf twice and commissioned 500 men to rebuild the shrine in 1623. The restoration was completed by his grandson Shah Safi al-Din in 1632. This restoration included a new dome, expanded courtyard, a hospital, kitchen, and hospice, so as to accommodate the numerous pilgrims. The cenotaph was restored in 1713 and the dome stabilized in 1716.

In 1742, Nader Shah gilded the dome and minaret,[6] and this was chronicled by Nasrallah al-Haeri in his famous poem, iḏhā ḍhāmak al-dahra yawman wa jārā (Template:Langx).[7][8] Nader Shah's wife paid for the walls and courtyard to be rebuilt and the retiling of the iwan faience. In 1745, the iwan was rebuilt as a gilt muqarnas of nine tiers. In 1791, a raised stone floor covered the tombs in the courtyard, creating a cellar space for them.

The first European visitors included Carsten Niebuhr in 1765, William Loftus in 1853, and Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1864.[9]Template:Rp The Ottoman emperor Abdülaziz rebuilt the Clock Portal (Bab al-Sa'a) and the Portal of Muslim Ibn 'Aqil in 1863 and the former gilded in 1888 by the Qajar sultan Naser al-Din Shah Qajar.[9] In 1886, Sultan Naser al-Din, also repaired the dome because there were breaks in it due to the weather.

Independent Iraq

During the uprising of March 1991, following the Persian Gulf War, Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards damaged the shrine, where members of the Shia opposition were cornered, in storming the shrine and massacring virtually all its occupants. Afterwards, the shrine was closed for two years, officially for repairs. Saddam Hussein also deported to Iran a large number of the residents of the area who were of Iranian descent.

In the three years after the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the U.S. military, a number of violent incidents occurred at the mosque:

Architecture and decoration

Numerous structures have existed over the tomb of Imam Ali since its discovery during the rule of Harun al Rashid in the 8th century. [10] The current structure though dates back to the Safavid period in the 17th century and was designed by the famous polymath Baha' al-din al-'Amili. The shrine consists of the central tomb chamber topped by a large double shell onion-shaped dome 42 m (138 ft) in height, and flanked by twin 38 m (125 ft) tall minarets.[9]Template:Rp The inner shell of the dome is visible from the inside of the tomb chamber while the monumental outer shell is visible from the courtyard of the shrine and throughout the city. [11] The inside of the tomb chamber and its surrounding halls are ornamented with an array of mirror mosaics, most of which has been replaced over the years and are not original. The ceramic mosaics that adorn the inner shell of the dome however are original and date back to the original construction of the shrine during the Safavid period. At the front of the shrine stands a large golden iwan flanked by two minarets. The monumental dome, iwan, and minarets are adorned with gold coated copper plates, though they were originally adorned with green and blue ceramic tiles in the typical Safavid fashion. The gilding of the shrines dome and façade elements occurred in 1743 under the orders of the Iranian king Nader Shah Afshar and his wife Razia Begum. The golden iwan, dome, and minarets contains numerous inscriptions in Persian, Arabic, and Azeri Turkish with poems in praise of Ali ibn Abi Talib inscriptions chronicling the gilding of the shrine by Nader Shah.[12] The left and right side walls of the shrine are ornamented with cuerda seca tile panels most of which date from either the 18th or 19th centuries. Imam Ali's shrine is among the last of the Shi'ite shrines in Iraq to retains its nearly full set of original antique tiles.[13]Template:Better source needed

Around the shrine on its North, East, and Southern sides is a large courtyard surrounded by pointed arch arcades, while the shrine is linked on the West to the Al-Ra's Mosque. The courtyard arcades are two floors in height and contain various small chambers historically used as dormitory rooms for seminary students, today most are used as administrative offices. The Al-Ras mosque (literally "The Head Mosque") is oriented in the direction of the head of Ali Ibn Abi Talib's grave. The original Al-Ras mosque is said to have dated from the Ilhanate period in 14th century however it was demolished in 2005 by the shrine's administration and rebuilt in a modern style using contemporary construction materials and methods. Local architectural historians and preservationists have argued the destruction of the original Al-Ras mosque destroyed an important part of the shrine's architectural heritage and the introduction of modern construction methods and materials has damaged the architectural integrity of the shrine.[11] The original Ilkhanate era mihrab of the Al-Ras mosque underwent restoration in 2023 after having been kept in storage for 18 years and will be put on display in the shrine's museum.[14]

Entrance to the shrine is through three main monumental portals on the eastern, northern and southern sides, called the Main or Clock Portal, al-Tusi Portal and the Qibla Portal respectively. There are two additional monumental portals, the Portal of Muslim Ibn 'Aqil, north of the Clock Gate, and the al-'Amara, or al-Faraj Portal, at the southwestern corner. The most notable of these entry portals is the Clock Portal (Iwan-i-Sa'at) and is topped by a tall clock tower ornamented with mosaic tiles. The clock mechanism and its bells were produced in Manchester, England and brought to the shrine in 1887, this is visible on iron engravings on the bells.

Religious status and precincts

File:ImamAliMosqueNajafIraq.JPG
The Shrine of Imam Ali in 2005

As the burial site of one of Islam's most important figures,[15] the Shrine of Imam Ali is considered by all Shia Muslims as the fourth holiest Islamic site.[15][16][17][18][19][20] The Boston Globe reports "for the Muslim Shias, Najaf is the fourth holiest city, behind Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine."[21][22][23] It is estimated that only Karbala, Mecca, and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims.[21] A hadith attributed to Ja'far as-Sādiq, the Sixth Imami Shī'ite Imām, mentions the site as one of "five definitive holy places that we respect very much".[16]

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.[24] Many Shiites 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 as-Sādiq.[25] Most Shī'ites accept that Ali is buried in Imām Ali Mosque, in what is now the city of Najaf, which grew around the shrine.[26]

As-Sādiq said that Imam Ali Mosque is the third of five holiest Islamic sites: Mecca, Medina, Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbalā, and the Shrine of his daughter Fāṭimah in Qom.[27]

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Gallery

See also

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References

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External links

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Template:Mosques in Iraq Template:Holiest sites in Shia Islam Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Al-Islam.org
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Never Again! Template:Webarchive ShiaNews.com
  16. ↑ a b Iran Diary, Part 2: Knocking on heaven's door Asia Times Online
  17. ↑ Muslim Shia's Saint Imam Ali Holy Shrine - 16 Images Template:Webarchive Cultural Heritage Photo Agency
  18. ↑ Template:Usurped Modarresi News, September 4, 2003
  19. ↑ Zaman Online, August 13, 2004 Template:Webarchive
  20. ↑ Why 2003 is not 1991 The Guardian, April 1, 2003
  21. ↑ a b Iraqi forces in Najaf take cover in important Shia shrine The Boston Globe, April 2, 2003
  22. ↑ Religious rivalries and political overtones in Iraq Template:Webarchive CNN.com, April 23, 2003]
  23. ↑ "Miscellaneous Relevant Links" Template:Webarchive Muslims, Islam, and Iraq]
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Majlesi, V.97, p. 246–251
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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