GUIDANCE TO ZIYARAT OF DAMASCUS |
19 October, 2005 |
| INTRODUCTION |
This article has been compiled by the young Zuwwar jointly namely Hassanali, Zainab and Fatema, the children of Brother Murtaza Hirji of Dubai, for the benefit of all the people wishing to visit the Holy Shrine of Bibi Zainab (as). The compilers of this article allow all moamineen and Zuwwar to print, distribute, copy - in parts or in full - provided the theme of their message is not misrepresented without the need or prior consent of the compilers.
We pray to Almighty Allah to grant the children who have compiled this article, ajre jameel along with their family and all moamineen - Ameen.
Webmaster
masoomin.org
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THE ZIYARAT |
Before being known as Damascus, it was known as Dam Shaqeeq (dam shaqeeq) - meaning “Blood of brother”- derived from the incident of the killing of Habil by Qabil.
Some people say that Dam Shaqeeq was derived from the assassination of Nabi Yahya.
From the airport one can hire a taxi to go to town or alternately arrangements can be made from Dubai to hire a station wagon or a saloon car, depending on the number of persons in the Group. |
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| 1. ZAINABIYA |
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Bibi Zainab’s haram (mausoleum) is at Zainabiya, in winter the haram is closed at 7:00 PM, otherwise closes at 9:00 PM except on Thursdays it is open till 10:00 PM.
The area has earned its name from Bibi Zainab’s grave. Previously it used to be called Al Raawiya. |
Haram of Bibi Zainab (AS) at night |
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| 2. BEHISHTE ZAINABIYA |
This is the graveyard situated opposite the haram of Bibi Zainab (A.S.), where only important persons are buried at a very high fee.
Dr. Ali Shari’ati is buried here. His tomb is kept in a room located on the far right hand side of the cemetery.
Dr. Shari’ati was born in Mazinan, a suburb of Mashhad, Iran. He completed his elementary and high school on Mashhad and at the age of 18 he started teaching besides studying. In 1960 he graduated from college and on a scholarship in France he received his doctorate in sociology in 1964.
When he returned to Iran he was arrested and imprisoned on the pretext of participating in political activities while in France. He was released in 1965 and started teaching in Mashhad University, explaining the problem of Muslim societies, in relation to Islamic principles. As a result the shah regime transferred him to Tehran where he lectured at Hussein-e-ershad Religious institute. Once again he was arrested. This time he was imprisoned under harsh conditions for 18 months, before being released on 20th march 1975 due to pressure and protests in his favour.
He was kept under close surveillance however. So in May 1977 he migrated to England. Three weeks later on 19th may 1977 he was assassinated. |
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| 3. GORISTAN-E-GHARIBAAN |
This is the cemetery for the public. There are many such graveyards in Sham. This particular one is located in the Baab Musalla area. It is called Al Mafaati. Here you will find the graves of:-
• Umme Salma : the wife of the Holy Prophet (SAW)
She was also known as Murabbiyaate Hasanain for her attachment to the Holy Prophet’s (SAW) grandsons.
When imam Hussain (AS) left for kerbala. Umme Salma stayed behind in Medina. The imam explained to her the hardships that awaited them at Kerbala. Umme Salma had a chance to see the scene of Asre Ashoor through his two fingers. She asked the Imam how she would know when he was actually martyred. The Imam gave her some sand saying that when he would be killed the sand would turn red.
• Umme Habiba ; the sister of Muawiya and wife of the Holy Prophet (SAW)
Her father Abu Sufyan was an enemy of the Ahle Bait. She herself however was not.
Once her father visited her and sat on her husband’s (The Holy Prophet (SAW)) bed. Umme Habiba requested him to sit elsewhere explaining that no ordinary person could sit on his bed.
• Abdullah ; son of Imam Zainul Abideen (AS)
His mother was the daughter of I. Hassan (AS).
Outside the room wherein lies his tomb, is the well built by his father.
• Umme Kulthoum ; daughter of Hazrat Ali (AS)
• Janabe Sakina ; the eldest daughter if Imam Hussain (AS)
• Janabe Fatema Sughra ; daughter of Imam Hussain (AS)
She was not taken to Kerbala, but stayed back in Medina.
• Abdullah; son of Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (AS)
• Bibi Fizza
She was of royal descent from Africa. When the Holy Prophet (SAW) proclaimed his prophethood she and her family were still in Africa. Her parents were not getting any children and her father had sworn that when his first child was born he would take him to Medina to serve the Holy Prophet (SAW) as a servant. As it turned out, their first child was a girl; and true to his word her father took her to Medina where she spent her life as a kaneez (maid servant) of Bibi Fatema (AS).
• Bilal Habashi; the first muezzin.
• Abdullah; son of Ja’fare Tayyar and husband of Bibi Zainab (AS).
When Imam Hussain took his kafela to Kerbala, Abdullah was taken ill and thus forced to remain behind in Medina. Like his brother-in-laws, Imam Hussain (AS), Hazrat Abbas (AS), Abdullah too was a brave warrior.
• Maimoona; daughter of Imam Hassan (AS)
• Hamida; daughter of Hazrat Muslim (AS)
• Asma; wife of Ja’fare Tayyar.
Her husband was the brother of Hazrat Ali (AS) and son of Hazrat Abu Talib. When the oppression in Mecca increased, the Holy Prophet (SAW) decided to send some followers to Abyssinia in an effort to save the lives of his followers as well as to spread Islam abroad. To reach Abyssinia they had to cross the Red Sea and the Holy Prophet (SAW) entrusted Ja’far with this mission. A total of 82 men and 18 women arrived in Abyssinia where they were called before the Emperor Negus. The emperor was so impressed with the knowledge, behaviour and politeness of Ja’far that he gave them shelter and permission to stay in Abyssinia, rejecting the appeal of the enemies (Quraishis) to throw them out and send them back to the Meccans. Ja’far preached the message of Islam in Abyssinia for 15 years before returning to Medina. |
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| 4. ZINDAAN QAID KHANA |
This is opposite Al Mafaati Cemetery. A small mosque has now been built there. Some of the ruins can still be seen. Here the heads of the Shohada were brought as they journeyed from Kerbala to Damascus. In the courtyard is the spot where Imam Zaynul Abideen (AS) dug a well.
The heads of Shohada are not buried here. It is believed that the 4th Imam (AS) later returned to Kerbala with them where they were buried with their bodies. |
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| 5. BIBI SAKINA (AS)’S MAUSOLEUM |
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This is called Masjide (Jaami) Sayyeda Rukayya (AS). It is situated two lanes from Jaam Amawi in downtown Damascus. Bibi Sakina’s name was actually Bibi Rukayya, but being a favourite of her father she earned the name Sakoon-e-Qalb (Comfort of my Heart) and he used to fondly call her Sakina
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In earlier days outside the mausoleum there used to be a river flowing. After the construction of the room around the tomb this river would have been flowing just outside the room. However it has since dried up.
There used to be a Mujtahid in Syria by the name Syed Mohsinul Ameen. Some 60 years ago he dies, his body is buried inside the courtyard of Bibi Zainab (AS)’s mausoleum. There are 2 rooms built in the courtyard. In the 1st one there are 2 tombs; one of which is Syed Mohsinul Ameen’s.
The Mujtahid had 3 daughters. Each night one of the daughters had a dream wherein Bibi Sakina (AS) would appear to them saying that her grave was being flooded by the river. She would beseech them to remove her grave from the spot or raise it above the water level.
Syed Mohsinul Ameen approached the prevailing governor for permission to open up the grave and have it raised above the water level. The governor’s assent was qualified in that should the grave be opened and found dry, the Syed would be killed. The Mujtahid agreed to this condition and the grave was dug out. It was found flooded. He lifted the body and had it reburied on the raised level that it stands today |
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| 6. JAAMI AMAWI (Also known as Jaami Umayya or Masjide Umayya) |
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This is the Darbare Yazid; the palace of Yazid where the kafela were held captive. It is located in downtown Shaam at the heart of Souk Hamadiya and is over 1300 years old.
In the courtyard you can see:-
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The spot where Bibi Zainab (AS) delivered her khutba
The spot where Imam Zainul Abideen (AS) delivered his khutba
Baab Sa’at – the entrance with the minaret and clock, outside which the kafela were made to wait for about 7 hours before being taken in to Yazid.
The place in the wall where Imam Hussain (AS)’s head lay and where Imam Zaynul Abideen (AS) offered prayers. This is now encased in glass. |
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Adjacent to the main place you can see:-
The room where the heads of the Shohada were kept. It is known as Raase Hussain or Shahrun Nabi as here the Holy Prophet (SAW) used to come and weep at night while Imam Hussain (AS)’s head lay there.
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Place where Imam Husain’s Head was kept |
The watchman used to hear the weeping every night and one day he told the 4th Imam about it. The Imam of course knew the mystery behind the event but agreed that that night he would enter the room when the weeping commenced. He found the Holy Prophet (SAW) there and before he disappeared again, a strand of his hair was left behind. |
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When Nabi Yahya was captured by the King’s men he was brought here to be killed. The prevailing king was Hirodotus. When his wife realized that her husband was losing interest in her, she tried to entice the king to seduce her daughter (from her first husband). |
| The well of Nabi Hud and the stone pot for wudhoo |
That way she knew that she and her daughter would have a safe future amidst the grandeur of the palace. (other sources say that it was not the Queen’s daughter but the King’s niece Herodya.)
This was during the time of Nabi Zakariah and his son Nabi Yahya. The latter preached against a father having relationship with his stepdaughter/niece. (this was forbidden to the people in accordance with the teachings of the Tawrat) |
Thus the king never succumbed to the designs of his wife. One night when the king was overcome with the effect of drink, the queen adorned her daughter and presented her before the king, saying that he could have the young beauty provided Nabi Yahya was killed.
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The tomb of Nabi Yahya. |
In his inebriate state, the king gave orders for the capture of Nabi Yahya. When his soldiers raided the house, Nabi Zakariah managed to escape; while for Nabi Yahya a tree opened for him to find safety from his pursuers. Nabi Yahya entered but a piece of his garb remained outside the tree; and so he was captured and killed.
At that time Nabi Hud’s well filled with blood and everytime any sowing was done for plantation, blood would ooze out from the soil. This continued until the queen, instrumental for Nabi Yahya’s death was killed and Nabi Yahya’s murder avenged. This happened when Bakhtun Nasr invaded the place. |
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The Christians believe in him as John the Baptist. It is interesting to visit the shrine on Sunday. You will see the nuns and Christians performing their rituals |
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The pulpit from where Imam Zainul Abideen (AS) delivered his khutba. Towards the right end of the main hall you will see a huge pulpit. When the 4th Imam was brought here before Yazid, and when the time of prayer commenced, the muazzin began his call to prayer (adhaan). The muezzin called: “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah (SWT).” On hearing this the 4th Imam looked at Yazid and asked him: |
Pulpit where khutba was delivered by 4th Imam |
“Why Yazid, was Muhammad your great-grandfather or mine?”
Opposite the mimbar, you will see a wooden platform atop which Yazid’s notorious women performed prayers in their purdah! On seeing this Bibi Zainab(AS) questioned Yazid as to what he was trying to achieve by keeping his immodest women who were unclean inside under veil; while he compelled the Ahle Bait to remain without purdah in all their pure chastity. |
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| 7. JEBEL AL QAASIYOON |
Before you go make sure the place is open. You can take a taxi halfway up the mountain, but after that there is a 25- minute climb up the slope to the spot where in a cave you can see:- |
| oWhere Qabil killed his brother Hazrat Habil |
Qabil and Hazrat Habil were the two sons of Hazrat Adam. Qabil was the elder of the two; and he was a farmer while Hazrat Habil was a shepherd. Hazrat Habil was pious and gentle man, but his brother always hated him and was jealous of him. According to Allah’s command, Hazrat Adam ordered his sons to make a sacrifice in the way of Allah and the one whose sacrifice was accepted would get his desire fulfilled.
Hazrat Habil brought a camel. (Some say sheep some say cattle).Qabil brought a crop of his agricultural produce. Because of his sincerity Hazrat Habil’s sacrifice was accepted. This increased the fire of animosity in Qabil’s heart and ultimately he killed his brother. He did not however know how to dispose off his brother’s body. So he put it in a sack and carried it around aimlessly. He reached as far as 50 kms from Damascus (on the way to Beirut). Qabil was not worthy of divine inspiration like his father and dead brother. But he still had to be taught what to do with the dead body. So Allah sent down 2 crows. One of them killed the other and dug a grave with his beak. He then buried the dead crow. Thus Qabil found a solution to his problem.
This explains why the place where Qabil killed his brother is so far away from the place where Hazrat Habil is actually buried. |
| oThe imprints of 2 eyes with teardrops |
The death of Hazrat Habil at the hands of his jealous brother was the first murder incident to take place on this earth. The earth was so upset with the crime that it shed tears for the deceased brother. A zilzaal (earthquake) followed and the cave would have collapsed on the body of Hazrat Habil but for Jibrael who was sent down by Allah to prevent it. Hence the finger prints that are seen on the roof of the cave.
(Refer Surah #5 Part #6) |
o The fingerprints of Hazrat Jibrael.
o The mehrab of Nabi Khizr.
o The mehrab of Nabi Ibrahim
o Maqaame Arba’een – the 40 musallas where 40 Prophets prayed. |
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| On the other side of the slope you can drive right up to the masjid inside which you will see:- |
| The cave of Ashabe Kahf |
You are allowed to enter and offer prayers in the cave; but the 5 peepholes that used to be there for seeing deeper inside are no longer there. The actual cave where the Ashabe Kahf and Qitmir (the dog) lie asleep is 70m further inside the mountain from this point. (Refer Surah # 18 Part # 15)
The king prevailing at that time was Mikiya Noos (originally from Yemen). He asked his people to worship him as the creator. The 6 ashaabs were disagreeable to this so they left town in search of the real creator. On the way they met a shepherd and his dog that joined them.
That night they stopped at the cave for rest and there they fell asleep with Qitmir on guard. The king sent a search party for them. They tracked the 7 people and dog to the cave. On seeing them asleep the king ordered for the cave to be sealed so that the inhabitants would die of suffocation and starvation.
As it were the ashabs fell into a deep slumber. Some 100-300 years later they woke thinking they had slept but one night. One of them, Jamaleekh, went out to the town in search of food. When the shopkeeper saw the coin that he offered in payment, he was surprised as it was very much out of date. Time had flown by and the new king was a God-fearing person.
When asked to explain the possession of the coin, Jamaleekh narrated the past events. The king sent some men with Jamaleekh to escort the other 6 ashabs and Qitmir back to town. When they reached the foot of the mountain, Jamaleekh asked the men not to follow him up to the cave as the ashabs on seeing such a throng would misinterpret them to be the men of king Mikiya Noos, and the consequences would be disastrous.
When they reached his friends, sleep overtook the 7 men and dog again. The good king on finding them in that state decided to let them be and so they remained.
The only person who ever spoke to them is Hazrat Ali (AS)
Up at the same slope but difficult to access are:-
o Koah e Raqim
o Small masjid
o Masjide Sulaiman
o Footprint of Hazrat Ali (AS)
o Khutba written by Hazrat Ali (AS) on stone. |
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| 8. ADRA |
This is about 45 minutes drive from Damascus. Here Hujar bin Adey and his men (all ashabs of Hazrat Ali (AS)) are buried. Adra is 70 kms the Iraqi border and 90 kms from Baghdad.
Hujar was an ashab of Hazrat Ali (AS) and he fought in his army in the battles of Nahrwan, Sifeen and Jamal.
Hujar was captured by Muawiyah’s men when he was journeying from Iraq to Syria. Upon his arrest, the soldiers asked Muawiyah what they were to do with their captives. The orders were that they were to be held prisoners under harsh conditions and ultimately killed, unless they agreed to abuse Hazrat Ali (AS).
Hujar refused to do so and when the time came for them to be killed, he asked that his son be killed first; lest he should change heart once his father was dead.
Most of the men killed were from the Kindi clan. Their bodies were dumped in a hole where the tomb area is now seen. |
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| 9. HAZRAT HABIL’S GRAVE |
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| This is out of town on the old Beirut road. Take your passports with you as for security reasons you will need to produce them at the check point. |
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| USEFUL INFORMATION |
If you want to hire taxi or the station wagon to take you for all the ziyarats, call Mr. Basam (who speaks good English and is very conversant with the history of Syria)
He will pick you up from the airport,take you for all the ziyarats and see you off at the airport too.
Mobile Number: 093 703092 |
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Accomodation:
Dar Al Taqwa Hotel
Damascus Al Sayda Zeinab - POBox : 13152
Tel : + 963 11 642 02 91 - 6647 27 00
Fax : +963 11 642 02 92
e-mail : takwa@almajed-group.com
Al Hossen Residence
Damascus Al Sayda Zeinab - POBox : 13152
Tel : + 963 11 647 17 12 - 647 12 58 - 642 02 92
Fax : +963 11 642 02 91
e-mail : hossen@almajed-group.com
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