Holy Cities in Iraq
Holy Cities in Iraq (1)
The military invasion and occupation of Iraq by the US and British forces has made the ancient land of Mesopotamia the focus of world attention. The white lies uttered by the men in power in the White House for justifying their invasion when the real objective is to control Iraqi oil and provide strategic coverage for the covetous designs of the illegal Zionist entity called Israel, has angered world public opinion. However, the most important factor for Iraq becoming the cynosure of eyes of all believers, especially of Muslims, is the holy sites that dot the land, where Adam (AS), the first human being, rests in peace in Najaf, and where Prophet Noah (AS) reposes in peace in the same city, and where Prophet Abraham (AS) was born in the vicinity of Naseriyah and where Prophet Jonah’s resting place is situated near Mosul. But the most important place of pilgrimage in Iraq for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world after the Holy Ka’ba in Mecca and the shrine of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in Medina, is the holy shrine in Najaf of the Prophet’s Beloved Cousin, Son-in-Law and First Infallible Successor, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), followed by the shrine of his son, the Chief of all Martyrs, Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala.
Imam Ali (AS) needs no introduction to any true believer. He was next only to his cousin the Prophet in virtue, knowledge and wisdom, and is considered the epitome of valour, magnanimity, piety, generosity, eloquence, simplicity and all other positive characteristics. He played the leading and crucial role in the spread of Islam as the right hand of the Prophet by risking his life on many a occasion and was duly praised by God in the Holy Qur’an for his sincerity of efforts and peerless characteristics. Although his political rights were usurped after the passing away of the Prophet, Imam Ali (AS) never withheld advice and consul to those in political power who used to come begging at his door for solution to state and religious problems. For 25 years he tolerated in patience the mess made of Islamic rule, and when Muslims came begging at his door to take over the reins of caliphate, he reluctantly agreed on condition that he would act only according to the law of God in the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s exemplary practice and behaviour. During his almost 5-year administration of the vast Islamic realm that now includes over twenty countries spread from North Africa to Central Asia, Imam Ali (AS) set up the model administration for all human societies. He moved his capital from Medina to Kufa in present day Iraq which was more centrally situated and gave practical shape to the concept of social justice. It was perfection at its very peak but the enemies of humanity harassed him, imposed wars on him that he won, and eventually a renegade called Abdur-Rahman ibn Muljem, struck the Imam’s head with a poisoned sword while he was engrossed in prayer in the early morning hours in the Grand Mosque of Kufa on the 19th of the fasting month of Ramazan.
On being fatally struck, Imam Ali (AS) expressed those famous words Fozto wa Rabbil-Ka’ba, which means 'by the Lord of the Holy Ka’ba I have triumphed'. Two days later he achieved immortal martyrdom at the age of 63 years and was laid to rest amidst the graves of Adam and Noah in nearby Najaf, which is now the famous site of pilgrimage for the faithful from around the world. Even in his last hours when the assassin was brought enchained before him, Imam Ali (AS) called for the loosening of the wretch’s bonds, offered him the cup of milk he was drinking and asked him, was he not a good leader, then why did he damn himself eternally by assassinating him. The Imam then willed that if he dies the assassin should be dispatched with one single stroke and cautioned against torturing him by quoting a saying from his cousin the Prophet that even rabid dogs should not be lynched in Islam. Part of Imam Ali’s sermons, letters and maxims have been collected in bookform under the title Nahj ol-Balagha or Highway of Eloquence, and they provide a glimpse of his outstanding personality. Among other things including the creation of the universe, the Majesty of God Almighty, the amazing world of the plant and animal kingdoms, and numerous other topics, the book contains the Imam’s famous epistle to his governor of the then Christian-majority Egypt, and is regarded as the finest charter of human rights and administrative norms, more complete than what modern minds have attempted to conceive collectively.
The holy shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf is topped by a golden dome and encircled by a sprawling mausoleum that accommodates the floods of pilgrims who run into millions on special occasions. People flock from all over the world to pay respects, pray and beseech God for boons that are always granted at the shrine of Imam Ali (AS). Najaf is also the seat of an important and historical theological center that was established a thousand years ago near the holy shrine in view of the Prophet’s famous saying: I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gateway, whoever wishes to enter the city should come through the gateway.”
Najaf is thus the gateway to the realms of knowledge, the branches of Islamic sciences and the world of jurisprudential matters. Many a famous scholar has emerged through its corridors of learning to write valuable books and guide the faithful in different countries of the world. Najaf is thus a sacred place, and has accordingly been declared as “off limits” to American aggressors who have been warned by theUlema and the people against committing the folly of arousing the wrath of believers throughout the world. It is a sanctuary for all those seeking divine protection.
Near Najaf is the ancient city of Kufa, which was the canter of the model government of Imam Ali (AS) and which according to prophecies in Islamic texts will be the center of the global government, when the 12th infallible Imam will emerge from occultation by the will of God to cleanse the world from oppression, exploitation and injustice and fill it with peace, order and justice. He will be known as Mahdi or the Rightly Guided (May Allah hasten his reappearance). Kufa, where skirmishes took place recently between Iraqis and the occupation forces, has many important landmarks for world pilgrims. The chief among them is the Grand Mosque where in its sprawling courtyard Imam Ali (AS) used to give his wise judgments and where in one of its niches he was struck the fatal blow that resulted in his martyrdom. Behind the mosque is the modest house of Imam Ali (AS) where pilgrims flock to contemplate on the simple life of the person who ruled a vast realm from North Africa to Central Asia, which is now split into over 20 world countries. The Grand Mosque of Kufa is considered the third most holy site in Islam next to the sacred Ka’ba in Mecca and the holy shrine of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in Medina. It contains the site where the father of the human race, Adam, used to worship God, where Prophet Noah’s house was situated and where he started building his famous Ark before the deluge, where Prophet Abraham used to bow in reverence to the Almighty, where Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) briefly halted on his lightning Me’raaj or ascension to the heavens from Mecca and where are situated the Mosallas or pray stations of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) and Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), the 4th and 6th Imams of the Prophet’s Household.
Adjacent to the Grand Mosque of Kufa is the shrine of Muslim ibn Aqeel the Nephew of Imam Ali (AS). Muslim was the emissary of his cousin Imam Hussein (AS) to the people of Kufa before the epic Battle of Ashura in Karbala. The people first welcomed him and then deserted him in fear of the Oppressive Omayyud Governor Obeidollah bin Ziyad. Muslim was betrayed and cruelly killed by the hordes of Yazid and like in the reign of terror of the recently overthrown Ba’thist Minority Dictator Saddam, his severed head was hung on the gate of Kufa while his body was dragged around in the streets. But today, as is clear to all pilgrims, it is Muslim who continues to hold court in Kufa from his golden-domed shrine while Ibn Ziyad like Saddam, has vanished from the pages of history. The ruins of the palace of Obeidullah Ibn Ziyad, behind the shrine of Muslim, should serve as an eternal lesson for all tyrants. It is hoped that the American occupiers would learn a lesson before it is too late since dreams of imposing American values on the Muslim people of Iraq will evaporate in the same manner as 35 years of Ba’thist vestiges have vanished and before that centuries of Ottoman hegemony and Omayyud and Abbasid tyranny was effaced from the Muslim land of Iraq.
On the outskirts of Kufa is the famous Sahla Mosque, which is also a center of pilgrimage for people from around the world. The large premises was the house of Prophet Idrees or Enoch long before the deluge of Prophet Noah and it also has the Mosallas or prayer stations of Prophet Abraham, Khezr, Imam Zain ol-Abedin (AS) and Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS). The main attraction for pilgrims to the Sahla Mosque is the Maqaam-e Saheb oz-Zamaan in honour of the Lord of the Age Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance). God grants the prayers of the faithful at this blessed spot and interestingly, this place would become the seat of the global government of the 12th Imam on his reappearance.
The military invasion and occupation of Iraq by the US and British forces has made the ancient land of Mesopotamia the focus of world attention. The white lies uttered by the men in power in the White House for justifying their invasion when the real objective is to control Iraqi oil and provide strategic coverage for the covetous designs of the illegal Zionist entity called Israel, has angered world public opinion. However, the most important factor for Iraq becoming the cynosure of eyes of all believers, especially of Muslims, is the holy sites that dot the land, where Adam (AS), the first human being, rests in peace in Najaf, and where Prophet Noah (AS) reposes in peace in the same city, and where Prophet Abraham (AS) was born in the vicinity of Naseriyah and where Prophet Jonah’s resting place is situated near Mosul. But the most important place of pilgrimage in Iraq for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world after the Holy Ka’ba in Mecca and the shrine of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in Medina, is the holy shrine in Najaf of the Prophet’s Beloved Cousin, Son-in-Law and First Infallible Successor, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), followed by the shrine of his son, the Chief of all Martyrs, Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala.
Imam Ali (AS) needs no introduction to any true believer. He was next only to his cousin the Prophet in virtue, knowledge and wisdom, and is considered the epitome of valour, magnanimity, piety, generosity, eloquence, simplicity and all other positive characteristics. He played the leading and crucial role in the spread of Islam as the right hand of the Prophet by risking his life on many a occasion and was duly praised by God in the Holy Qur’an for his sincerity of efforts and peerless characteristics. Although his political rights were usurped after the passing away of the Prophet, Imam Ali (AS) never withheld advice and consul to those in political power who used to come begging at his door for solution to state and religious problems. For 25 years he tolerated in patience the mess made of Islamic rule, and when Muslims came begging at his door to take over the reins of caliphate, he reluctantly agreed on condition that he would act only according to the law of God in the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s exemplary practice and behaviour. During his almost 5-year administration of the vast Islamic realm that now includes over twenty countries spread from North Africa to Central Asia, Imam Ali (AS) set up the model administration for all human societies. He moved his capital from Medina to Kufa in present day Iraq which was more centrally situated and gave practical shape to the concept of social justice. It was perfection at its very peak but the enemies of humanity harassed him, imposed wars on him that he won, and eventually a renegade called Abdur-Rahman ibn Muljem, struck the Imam’s head with a poisoned sword while he was engrossed in prayer in the early morning hours in the Grand Mosque of Kufa on the 19th of the fasting month of Ramazan.
On being fatally struck, Imam Ali (AS) expressed those famous words Fozto wa Rabbil-Ka’ba, which means 'by the Lord of the Holy Ka’ba I have triumphed'. Two days later he achieved immortal martyrdom at the age of 63 years and was laid to rest amidst the graves of Adam and Noah in nearby Najaf, which is now the famous site of pilgrimage for the faithful from around the world. Even in his last hours when the assassin was brought enchained before him, Imam Ali (AS) called for the loosening of the wretch’s bonds, offered him the cup of milk he was drinking and asked him, was he not a good leader, then why did he damn himself eternally by assassinating him. The Imam then willed that if he dies the assassin should be dispatched with one single stroke and cautioned against torturing him by quoting a saying from his cousin the Prophet that even rabid dogs should not be lynched in Islam. Part of Imam Ali’s sermons, letters and maxims have been collected in bookform under the title Nahj ol-Balagha or Highway of Eloquence, and they provide a glimpse of his outstanding personality. Among other things including the creation of the universe, the Majesty of God Almighty, the amazing world of the plant and animal kingdoms, and numerous other topics, the book contains the Imam’s famous epistle to his governor of the then Christian-majority Egypt, and is regarded as the finest charter of human rights and administrative norms, more complete than what modern minds have attempted to conceive collectively.
The holy shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf is topped by a golden dome and encircled by a sprawling mausoleum that accommodates the floods of pilgrims who run into millions on special occasions. People flock from all over the world to pay respects, pray and beseech God for boons that are always granted at the shrine of Imam Ali (AS). Najaf is also the seat of an important and historical theological center that was established a thousand years ago near the holy shrine in view of the Prophet’s famous saying: I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its Gateway, whoever wishes to enter the city should come through the gateway.”
Najaf is thus the gateway to the realms of knowledge, the branches of Islamic sciences and the world of jurisprudential matters. Many a famous scholar has emerged through its corridors of learning to write valuable books and guide the faithful in different countries of the world. Najaf is thus a sacred place, and has accordingly been declared as “off limits” to American aggressors who have been warned by theUlema and the people against committing the folly of arousing the wrath of believers throughout the world. It is a sanctuary for all those seeking divine protection.
Near Najaf is the ancient city of Kufa, which was the canter of the model government of Imam Ali (AS) and which according to prophecies in Islamic texts will be the center of the global government, when the 12th infallible Imam will emerge from occultation by the will of God to cleanse the world from oppression, exploitation and injustice and fill it with peace, order and justice. He will be known as Mahdi or the Rightly Guided (May Allah hasten his reappearance). Kufa, where skirmishes took place recently between Iraqis and the occupation forces, has many important landmarks for world pilgrims. The chief among them is the Grand Mosque where in its sprawling courtyard Imam Ali (AS) used to give his wise judgments and where in one of its niches he was struck the fatal blow that resulted in his martyrdom. Behind the mosque is the modest house of Imam Ali (AS) where pilgrims flock to contemplate on the simple life of the person who ruled a vast realm from North Africa to Central Asia, which is now split into over 20 world countries. The Grand Mosque of Kufa is considered the third most holy site in Islam next to the sacred Ka’ba in Mecca and the holy shrine of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) in Medina. It contains the site where the father of the human race, Adam, used to worship God, where Prophet Noah’s house was situated and where he started building his famous Ark before the deluge, where Prophet Abraham used to bow in reverence to the Almighty, where Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) briefly halted on his lightning Me’raaj or ascension to the heavens from Mecca and where are situated the Mosallas or pray stations of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) and Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), the 4th and 6th Imams of the Prophet’s Household.
Adjacent to the Grand Mosque of Kufa is the shrine of Muslim ibn Aqeel the Nephew of Imam Ali (AS). Muslim was the emissary of his cousin Imam Hussein (AS) to the people of Kufa before the epic Battle of Ashura in Karbala. The people first welcomed him and then deserted him in fear of the Oppressive Omayyud Governor Obeidollah bin Ziyad. Muslim was betrayed and cruelly killed by the hordes of Yazid and like in the reign of terror of the recently overthrown Ba’thist Minority Dictator Saddam, his severed head was hung on the gate of Kufa while his body was dragged around in the streets. But today, as is clear to all pilgrims, it is Muslim who continues to hold court in Kufa from his golden-domed shrine while Ibn Ziyad like Saddam, has vanished from the pages of history. The ruins of the palace of Obeidullah Ibn Ziyad, behind the shrine of Muslim, should serve as an eternal lesson for all tyrants. It is hoped that the American occupiers would learn a lesson before it is too late since dreams of imposing American values on the Muslim people of Iraq will evaporate in the same manner as 35 years of Ba’thist vestiges have vanished and before that centuries of Ottoman hegemony and Omayyud and Abbasid tyranny was effaced from the Muslim land of Iraq.
On the outskirts of Kufa is the famous Sahla Mosque, which is also a center of pilgrimage for people from around the world. The large premises was the house of Prophet Idrees or Enoch long before the deluge of Prophet Noah and it also has the Mosallas or prayer stations of Prophet Abraham, Khezr, Imam Zain ol-Abedin (AS) and Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS). The main attraction for pilgrims to the Sahla Mosque is the Maqaam-e Saheb oz-Zamaan in honour of the Lord of the Age Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his reappearance). God grants the prayers of the faithful at this blessed spot and interestingly, this place would become the seat of the global government of the 12th Imam on his reappearance.
posted by Thaqalain | Monday, May 24, 2004
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