Mosques in Iraq

There are many old mosques in Iraq known mostly for their domes and minarets, such as al-Hadba' Minaret in Mosul, Sheik Marouf Mosque and Khafafin Mosque. There are also many recent mosques distinguished for their magnificent arabesques, glazed tile walls and superb calligraphy, a characteristic of Islamic architecture, such as 14^th Ramadhan Mosques, the Martyrs Mosque, Bunnieh Mosque and Um al-Ma'arik Mosque. The following are some of the famous shrines and mosques in Iraq:

Al-Qadiriya Shrine in Baghdad

In Baghdad, the city of history, literature and culture, there are a number of prestigious Islamic sites. One of these sites is al-Qadiriya shrine which is situated in al-Rusafa side, at a quarter known as Bab al-Sheik, after Sheik Abdul Qadir al-Ghailani, the Sheik of Islam and the head of the Islamic scholars.

History shows that al-Qadiriya shrine was originally a religious school and it was built by al-Hanbali.

The school was later renovated and extended by his disciple Sheikh Abdul Qadir Bin Mousa al-Ghailani who was a great Imam. He was born in Ghailan district to the south of the Caspean Sea in 1077 AD (470 AH). He came to Baghdad while he was a young man, where he was received and assisted warmly by the city's poor and wealthy alike. Later he became the chief teacher of this school where he taught and gave sermons.

He soon surpassed his masters, and recommended people to love strangers and practice self-denial. His reputation spread and he became a Sheik of high esteem who was greatly respected all over the Islamic world. Many miracles and wonders were attributed to him. Disciples and students gathered around him and he established al-Qadiriya, which is one of the Sufi methods widely spread all over the world.

Sheik Abdul Qadir is a descendent of Imam Ali Bin Abi Talib (cousin and son in law of Prophet Muhammad) from his father and mother's side.

The Sheik died 1166AD/561AH and was buried during the night at the school's cloister. The school's doors were not opened until daylight came and people rushed to pray on him. Thus the school became one of the greatest mosques of Baghdad.

The tomb and the Mosque of Sheik Abdul Qadir al-Ghailani witnessed various construction phases. The most important of which took place in 1534AD/941AH when a huge and wonderful dome was constructed over the indoor praying section of the mosque. It is the biggest ever dome in Iraq to be built of bricks and gypsum, and up to this date it exists. The clock of the Qadiriya Shrine was built in 1898AD/1316AH and its tower is similar to that of al-Qushla Clock in Baghdad.

Imam al-A’dham Shrine

Any visitor to Baghdad would certainly head towards the Mosque and tomb of Imam al-A’dham, a famous and holy Islamic site of worship which has been dear to the hearts of the Moslems.

The district in which this holy site is situated was a famous part of Baghdad during the Abbasid era. It continued a cemetery known as al-Khaizaran Cemetery. When Imam al-A’dham Abu Hanifa al-Nu’man bin Thabit al-Kufidied died in 767AD/150AH, he was buried in this cemetery and the district became to be known as the district of Abu Hanifa and al-A’dhamiya.

This holy Imam was born in Kufa in 699AD/80AH. He met and contacted some of the aged Companions of Prophet Mohammed. He taught and undertook the task of Fatwa in Kufa, and became a great personality in Islam and the introducer of Imam of al-Hanafi doctrine in Islam, and one of the great four Imams of Islamic Shari’a.

He was the first to divide Islamic jurisprudence into parts and sections. The tomb of al-Imam al-A’dham witnessed various structural and architectural stages. During the reign of the Seljuk Sultan Alb Arsalan, the building underwent great renovations by Sharaf al-Mulk abu Sa’eed al- Khawarizmi in 1067AD/459AH and a great dome was built on it . The present dome of the mosque was built in 1638AD/1048AH.

The Mosque was built in 1871AD/1288AH then it was renovated in 1903/1321AH. Its exterior cloister was built in 1948AD/1367AH.

One of the landmarks of Imam al-A’dham Mosque is the big clock which was built by the late Abdul Razzaq Mahsoub and the tomb of Imam al-A’dham and was erected at its present position in 1958.

Today after great expansions which the Mosque and the tomb have seen, they have become one of the prestigious places of worship in Iraq and it visited annually by thousands of visitors from all over the Islamic world.

Prophet Younis Mosque

The mosque is one of most famous mosques in Mosul, northern Iraq. It is situated at the left bank of Tigris River on a hill called " Prophet Younis Hill" and the other name is "al- Tawba HILL " It was named in this way due to "younan Bin Matty " and the story of the whale that was mentioned in AL-Quran and the Bible.

Younis, the prophet who in disobeying God’s command, was punished by being thrown into the sea and swallowed by a whale. After spending many nights inside the whale in earnest prayers, God forgave him.

His shrine is situated on a high hill in Mosul (Nehneva Province), 450 km northern Iraq. Pilgrimages and visitors flock to it from every where.

The shrine and the mosque have undergone certain changes. New houses, watering places, blue glazed-brick buildings and a limestone minaret have been built.

An intensive campaign to develop and upkeep the shrine started in 1989. It intended to modernize the shrine service facilities in a way that would suit its religious and historic status, such as electric, health and mechanical systems, decorating walls with inscription, gypsum and Quran chapters, covering arches and support them with iron frames. The mosque walls have been covered with marble and the ceiling with brick and supply it with modern light and air conditioning systems.

The mosque is one of the sacred places in Ninevah where people and monks visit in certain occasions. It was first an Asserian temple, afterwards the place changed to became a place for fire worshipers, then a monastery, and a church, finally it became an Islamic mosque.

In one of the rooms inside the mosque, there is the prophet Younis' shrine. On the walls of the room one can see the whale bones.

The conic brass domes of the mosque can be seen from the outside. A winged statue is situated near the mosque, which is the sign of the Asserian civilization that was found through excavations during restoring the mosque. Besides, there is a well known as " Prophet Younis Well " where he bathed after the whale released him.