Al-Askari Mosque

This article is about the Iraqi mosque. For the medieval Egyptian capital, please see Al-Askar.

Al ‘Askarī Mosque
Shrine of the 10th and 11th Twelver Shī‘ah Imāms: ‘Alī an-Naqī and Hasan al-‘Askarī
Basic information
Location	Sāmarrā, Iraq
Geographic coordinates	34°11′56″N 43°52′24″E / 34.19878°N 43.87338°E / 34.19878; 43.87338Coordinates: 34°11′56″N 43°52′24″E / 34.19878°N 43.87338°E / 34.19878; 43.87338
Affiliation	Shia (Twelver)

Al ‘Askarī Mosque 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‘ah Muslim holy site located in the Iraqi city of Sāmarrā 125 km (78 mi) from Baghdad. It is one of the most important Shī‘ah mosques in the world, built in 944.^[1] Its dome was destroyed in a bombing by Sunni extremists in February 2006 and its two remaining minarets were destroyed in another bombing in June 2007, causing widespread anger amongst Shī‘ah Muslims. The remaining clock tower was also destroyed in July 2007.^{[citation needed]}

The remains of the 10th and 11th Shī‘ah Imāms, ‘Alī al-Hādī ("an-Naqī") and his son Hasan al-‘Askarī, known as: al-‘Askariyyain ("the two ‘Askarīs"), rest at the shrine.^[2] Also buried within the Mosque are: Hakimah Khātūn, sister of ‘Alī al-Hādī; and Narjis Khātūn, the mother of Muħammad al-Mahdī.^[3] Adjacent to this shrine is another mosque, built over the location where the Twelfth or "Hidden" Imām, Muħammad al-Mahdī first entered the Minor Occultation.

The ‘Askariyya Shrine is also known as the "Tomb or Mausoleum of the Two Imāms", "the Tomb of Imāms ‘Alī al-Hādī and Hasan al-‘Askarī" and "al-Hadhratu l-‘Askariyya".

Time magazine reported at the time of the 2006 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]

History

The Al-Askari Mosque in 1916.

The Imāms ‘Alī al-Hādī ("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 ‘Askariyyain "Dwellers in the Camp". They died and were buried in their house on Abī Ahmad Street near the mosque built by Mu‘tasim.^[3] A later tradition attributes their deaths to poison.

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

Main article: 2006 al-Askari Mosque bombing

The Mosque in 2006 after the first bombing

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 belonging to Iraqi Sunni insurgent groups affiliated with Al-Qaida, 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^[5][6] by five^[7] to seven^[8] men dressed as personnel of the Iraqi Special forces^[9] who entered the shrine during the morning.^[10]

2007 attack

Main article: 2007 al-Askari Mosque bombing

At around 8 a.m. on 13 June 2007, operatives belonging to al-Qaeda 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."^[11] A report from state run Iraqiya Television stated that "local officials said that two mortar rounds were fired at the two minarets."^[11]

Reopening

As of April 2009, the golden dome and the minarets have been restored and the shrine reopened to visitors.^[12]

See also

• Bab Saghir
• Destruction of sites associated with early Islam
• Damage to Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War
• Holiest sites in Islam (Shia)
• Jannatul Baqee'
• Jannatul Mualla

References

1. ^ Knight, Sam (February 22, 2006). "Al-Askariya shrine: 'Not just a major cathedral'". TimesOnline.co.uk (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-2053168,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
2. ^ "History of the Shrine of Imam Ali al-Naqi & Imam Hasan Al-Askari, Peace Be Upon Them". Al-Islam.org. http://www.al-islam.org/shrines/samarra.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Shrine of Imām al-Hādī and Imām al-‘Askarī (ArchNet Digital Library)
4. ^ An Eye For an Eye, Time Magazine, February 26, 2006.
5. ^ "Explosion destroys Shiite shrine golden dome". Ireland On-Line. http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=173575042&p=y73575748. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
6. ^ "Bombers strike Shia mausoleum in Iraq". IBN Live. http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=5757&section_id=2. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
7. ^ Knickmeyer, Ellen (February 23, 2006). "Bombing Shatters Mosque In Iraq". WashingtonPost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022200454.html. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
8. ^ "Blast destroys golden dome of Iraq's shrine". HindustanTimes.com. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1632721,00050004.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
9. ^ Knight, Sam (February 22, 2006). "Bombing of Shia shrine sparks wave of retaliation". TimesOnline.com (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-2052701,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
10. ^ "Iraqi shrine bombing spurs wave of sectarian reprisals". CBC News. February 22, 2006. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/02/22/iraq-shrine-blast.html. Retrieved February 23, 2006. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Graham Bowley (2007-06-13). "Minarets on Shiite Shrine in Iraq Destroyed in Attack". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/world/middleeast/13cnd-samarra.html?ref=world. 
12. ^ Bombed Iraq shrine reopens to visitors

Further reading

• Hammer, Joshua; Becherer, Max (January 2009). "Samarra Rises". Smithsonian 39 (10): pp. 28–37 
  Abstract (characteristic of Smithsonian feature articles): "In 2006, sectarian violence engulfed Iraq after terrorists destroyed the Mosque of the Golden Dome, built on a site sacred to Shiites for 1,100 years. Today, Sunnis and Shiites are working together to restore the shrine and the war-torn city."
• Ellen Knickmeyer and K.I. Ibrahim (February 23, 2006). "Bombing Shatters Mosque in Iraq". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022200454.html. 
• ICOMOS Heritage at Risk 2006/2007: Iraq, Askariya Shrine

External links

• Ernst Herzfeld Papers, Records of Samarra Expeditions, Shiite Shrine Complex Collections Search Center, S.I.R.I.S., Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Ernst Herzfeld Papers, Series 7: Records of Samarra Expeditions, 1906-1945 Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
• Images of the destruction: before and after
• BBC picture gallery
• BBC video
• NYT picture gallery