- This article is about the Iraqi mosque. For the medieval Egyptian capital, please see Al-Askar.
Al-Askarī or the `Askariyya Mosque/Shrine (Arabic: مرقد الامامين علي الهادي والحسن العسكري Marqad al-Imāmayn `Alī l-Hādī wa l-Ħassan al-`Askarī) is a Shī`a Muslim holy site located in the Iraqi city of Samarra 125 km (78 mi) from Baghdad. It is one of the most important Shī`ite mosques in the world, built in 944.[1] Its dome was destroyed in a bombing in February 2006 and its two remaining minarets were destroyed in another bombing in June 2007, causing widespread anger amongst Shī`a Muslims. Furthermore, the remaining clock tower was also destroyed in July 2006. The remains of the 10th and 11th Shī`a Imāms, `Alī l-Hādī and his son Hassan al-`Askarī, known as "the two `Askarīs" (al-`Askariyyān), rest at the shrine.[2] It stands adjacent to a shrine to the Twelfth or "Hidden" Imām, Muħammad al-Mahdī. The `Askariyya Shrine is also known as the "Tomb or Mausoleum of the Two Imāms", "the Tomb of Imāms `Alī l-Hādī and Hassan al-`Askarī" and al-Hadhratu l-`Askariyya. Also buried within the Mosque are the remains of Hakimah Khatun, sister of `Alī l-Hādī, and of Narjis Khatun, mother of Muħammad al-Mahdi.[3] Time magazine reported at the time of the 2007 Al-Askari Mosque bombing that “al-Askari [is] one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest sites, exceeded in veneration only by the shrines of Najaf and Karbala. Even Samarra's Sunnis hold al-Askari in high esteem. The expression 'to swear by the shrine' is routinely used by both communities".[4]
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History
The Imāms `Alī l-Hādī (also known as an-Naqī) and Hassan al-`Askarī lived under house arrest in the part of Samarra that had been Caliph al-Mu'tasim's military camp (`Askaru l-Mu'tasim). As a result, they are known as the `Askariyyān ("Dwellers in the Camp"). They died and were buried in their house on Abī Ahmad Street near the mosque built by Mu'tasim.[5] A later tradition attributes their deaths to poison. The shrine around their tombs was developed in 944 by the Hamdanid governor Nasīr ad-Dawla and became a focus for pilgrims. It was developed and rebuilt several times in succeeding centuries,[6] including, in particular, by Arslan al-Basasiri around 1053 and by Caliph an-Nasīr li-Dīn Allāh in 1209. Nasir ad-Din Shah Qajar undertook the latest remodelling of the shrine in 1868, with the golden dome added in 1905. Covered in 72,000 gold pieces and surrounded by walls of light blue tiles, the dome was a dominant feature of the Samarra skyline. It was approximately 20 m (66 ft) in diameter by 68 m (223 ft) high.
Bombings
2006 attack
On February 22, 2006, at 6:55 a.m. local time (0355 UTC) explosions occurred at the mosque, effectively destroying its golden dome and severely damaging the mosque. Several men, one wearing a military uniform, had earlier entered the mosque, tied up the guards there and set explosives, resulting in the blast. Two bombs were set off[7][8] by five[9] to seven[10] men dressed as personnel of the Iraqi Special forces[11] who entered the shrine during the morning.[12]
2007 attack
At around 8 a.m. on 13 June 2007, suspected al-Qaeda operatives destroyed the two remaining 36 m (118 ft)-high golden minarets flanking the dome's ruins. No fatalities were reported. Iraqi police have reported hearing "two nearly simultaneous explosions coming from inside the mosque compound at around 8 a.m."[13] A report from state run Iraqiya Television stated that "local officials said that two mortar rounds were fired at the two minarets."[13]
References
- ^ Knight, Sam (2006). Al-Askariya shrine: 'Not just a major cathedral'. TimesOnline.co.uk. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ History of the Shrine of Imam Ali al-Naqi & Imam Hasan Al-Askari, Peace Be Upon Them. Al-Islam.org. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ Shrine of Imām al-Hādī and Imām al-`Askarī (ArchNet Digital Library)
- ^ An Eye For an Eye, Time Magazine, February 26, 2006.
- ^ Shrine of Imām al-Hādī and Imām al-ˤAskarī (ArchNet Digital Library)
- ^ Al-jazeera
- ^ Explosion destroys Shiite shrine golden dome. Ireland On-Line. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ Bombers strike Shia mausoleum in Iraq. IBN Live. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ Knickmeyer, Ellen (2006). Bombing Shatters Mosque In Iraq. WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ Blast destroys golden dome of Iraq's shrine. HindustanTimes.com. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ Knight, Sam (2006). Bombing of Shia shrine sparks wave of retaliation. TimesOnline.com. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ Iraqi shrine bombing spurs wave of sectarian reprisals. CBC News. Retrieved on February 23, 2006.
- ^ a b Graham Bowley. "Minarets on Shiite Shrine in Iraq Destroyed in Attack", New York Times, June 13, 2007.
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