Imam Husayn Shrine

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The Imam Husayn Shrine (Arabic: مقام الامام حسين) is a holy place in Shia Islam in the city of Karbala, Iraq. It is built on the spot where Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the prophet Muhammad, is believed to have been killed during the Battle of Karbala.

Public Broadcasting Service[1] portrays Karbala as follows: “…For Shiites, his tomb is the holiest site outside of Mecca and Medina, and many make the pilgrimage there -- up to a million pilgrims visit the city to observe Ashura, the anniversary of Husayn's death”. [2]

channel4.com states: “The holy city of Karbala, situated 100 km south of Baghdad, derives its name from two arabic words: 'Karb' and 'Bala'. Karb means adversity and Bala means afflict. Earilier, it was named as Karb-o-bala but now its Karbala. Even earlier, it was known as Nainava. Shia Muslims consider this to be one of the holiest places in the world second only to Mecca and Najaf. [3]

[edit] Timeline

• 680 October 10: Husayn is said to have been buried on this day.
• 684: A mosque was built by Mukhtar ibn Abu `Ubayd ath-Thaqafi on the spot and a dome was created over the grave. Two entrance gates were made for the mosque.
• 749: Another dome was erected over the mosque and additional two gates for entrance were made at the mausoleum during the reign of Abbasid Caliph as-Saffah.
• 763: During the reign of Caliph al-Mansur the roof, including domes, was destroyed.
• 774: The demolished roof was rebuilt during the reign of Caliph al-Mahdi.
• 787: During the reign of Caliph Harun ar-Rashid, the mausoleum was destroyed and the plum tree that stood besides the grave of Husayn was cut down.
• 808: The mausoleum was reconstructed during the reign of al-Amin.
• 850: Caliph al-Mutawakkil destroyed the mausoleum and ordered the nearby land, including the grave, to be ploughed.
• 861: Al-Muntasir reconstructed the shrine with an iron pillar.
• 886: Once again the mausoleum was destroyed.
• 893: The shrine was rebuilt by the Alid council and two minarets were constructed on either side of the grave. Two entrance gates for the shrine were also constructed.
• 977: A sepulcher was constructed within the shrine of teak wood by the Buwayhid emir `Adud ad-Dawlah. Surrounding galleries were also constructed. He also constructed the city of Karbala by making houses and the city boundary. 'Imran ibn Shahin at that time also constructed a mosque adjacent to the shrine.
• 1016: Fire destroyed the shrine. The vizier Hasan ibn Fadl rebuilt the structure.
• 1223: The sepulcher was renovated by an-Nasir li-Din Allah.
• 1365: The dome and walls of the shrine were reconstructed by Sultan `Uways ibn Hasan Jalayiri.
• 1384: The two minarets were reconstructed of gold by Sultan Ahmad ibn `Uways. The courtyard was also extended.
• 1514: The Safavid shah of Iran Ismail I constructed a sarcophagus of inlaid work over the real grave.
• 1622: Abbas Shah Safavi renovated the sarcophagus with brass and bronze and also the dome with Kashi tiles.
• 1638: Sultan Murad IV whitewashed the dome.
• 1742: Nadir Shah Afshar decorated the shrine and offered expensive gems to the treasury of the shrine.
• 1796: Aqa Muhammad Shah Qajar plastered the dome with pure gold.
• 1801: Wahhabis attacked Karbala, damaged the shrine, and looted the sepulchre.
• 1817: Fath Ali Shah Qajar reconstructed the screens by plating with silver. He also replated the dome with gold and therefore repaired the damage caused by the Wahhabis.
• 1866: Nasir ad-Din Shah Qajar broadened the courtyard of the mausoleum.
• 1939: Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin, of the Dawoodi Bohra community presented a set of solid silver screens with gold which were attached to the shrine.
• 1941: The western minaret was rebuilt by Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin.
• 1948: A road was built around the shrine by the then administrator of Karbala City, Sayyid Abd al-Rasul al-Khalsi. He also broadened the courtyard of the shrine.