Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque
| Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque مسجد السيدة زينب |
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| Basic information | |
| Location |  Damascus, Syria |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°26′40″N 36°20′27″E / 33.44444°N 36.34083°ECoordinates: 33°26′40″N 36°20′27″E / 33.44444°N 36.34083°E |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Rida Mourtada |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Completed | 1990 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque (Arabic: مسجد السيدة زينب) is a shrine located in Damascus, Syria, that contains the grave of Zaynab, daughter of ‘Alī and Fātimah and granddaughter of Muhammad.
It is believed by Shī‘a Muslims that this mosque is the authentic burial place of Lady Zaynab, whereas the mosque in Cairo by the same name belongs to: Zaynab b. Yahya b. Zayd b. ‘Alī Zayn al-‘Ābidīn (i.e. the great grand-daughter of the Imam).[1] The most authentic sources suggest that the grave is in Damascus.
Fatimid /Dawoodi Bohra believe that this mosque is burial place of Zaynab-ul-Sugra, Umm Kulthum,the younger daughter of Imam Ali.Lady Zaynab spent her last days in Cairo and her shrine is in Cairo. History narrated from noble ladies of Qahira/Cairo[2] support the claims.
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[edit] Specifications
The shrine contains magnificent Iranian architecture and the dome is made of pure gold. There is also a large mosque adjoining the shrine which can accommodate more than 1300 people in it and a further 150 in the attached courtyards. The grave of Zaynab is enclosed within a cage-like structure, found directly beneath the golden dome. The doors of the shrine are made of pure gold with marvellous mirror works on the roof and walls. The shrine gives a touching look at first with its breath taking appearance. The two tall minarets of the shrine are an excellent example of the architecture. The shrine has a large market in front of it with many religious things readily available.
The shrine is dominated by pilgrims until it is closed at 9 pm. The central management is Iranian with a few Arabs. The majority of the pilgrims are Iranians, Pakistanis and Bahraini, Lebanese, and Iraqi (Shia) Arabs.Sufis also visit the shrine. Prayers are led by Ayatullah Mujtaba Hussaini and Muslims from all ethnic backgrounds can be found praying there.
Ali Shariati, the Iranian ideologue of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, had wished before his death, to be buried in the yard of his beloved Zainab bint Ali. His shrine is found within the compound of Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque and is regularly visited by mostly Iranian pilgrims.
[edit] Recent history
On September 27, 2008, there was a car bomb attack on the intersection leading up to the mosque.[3]
[edit] See also
Media related to Saida Zeinab mosque at Wikimedia Commons
- Zaynab bint Ali
- Shi'a Islam
- Holiest sites in Islam (Shia)
- Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque
- Baab Sagheer
- Jannatul Baqee'
- Jannatul Mualla
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ http://mailviruskid.tripod.com/
- ^ The Heroine Of Kerbela: A Visit To The Mosques Of Sayeeda Zainab In Egypt and Syria, By Moushira El-Fishawy http://www.mathaba.net/news/
- ^ *"Syria condemns Damascus car bombing as "cowardly terrorist act"". Xinhua. 2008-09-27. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/27/content_10122565.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- Aji, Albert; Mroue, Bassem (2008-09-27). "Car bomb kills 17 in tightly controlled Syria". AP. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gp6gZV75vZLGdxlDQK2jDP-8LPHQD93F8RD80. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- "Syrian 'car bomb' blast kills 17". BBC. 2008-09-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7639137.stm. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- Worth, Robert F. (2008-09-27). "Car Bomb Kills 17 in Syria Near Intelligence Office". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/world/middleeast/28syria.html?ref=middleeast. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- "17 killed by bomb in Damascus: Syrian TV". AFP. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyDq5I4mxhpAEpJABoAW9jrKpPXA. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- "Damascus car bomb blast kills 17: Syrian TV". Reuters. 2008-09-27. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE48Q16320080927. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- Ladki, Nadim; Nakhoul, Samia. "ANALYSIS — Damascus car bomb another blow to Syrian security". Hurriyet. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/world/10000321.asp?gid=244&sz=4887. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- "Car Bomb – Damascus". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024836.html. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- Chmaytelli, Maher (2008-09-27). "Damascus Car Bomb Kills 17 Near Pilgrimage Shrine". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=awKezODudySg&refer=home. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- "Syria hunts for Damascus car bombers". AFP. 2008-09-28. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLdfYwXkqY779ZgcPI-Yc-bRrSBQ. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- "Several killed in Damascus bombing". aljazeera. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/09/200892764254693881.html. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- "TV Car bomb explosion in Damascus kills 17 people". SouthernLedger. 2008-09-27. http://www.southernledger.com/ap/178027/TV_Car_bomb_explosion_in_Damascus_kills_17_people. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- Makdessi, Marwan (2008-09-27). "Damascus car bomb blast kills 17". Mirror.co.uk. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/latest/2008/09/27/damascus-car-bomb-blast-kills-17-115875-20755869/. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- "'Top Syrian officer among bomb victims'". Jerusalem Post. 2008-09-28. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017413324&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
