Uwais al-Qarni Mosque
| Uwais al-Qarani Mosque | |
|---|---|
مَسْجِد أُوَيْس ٱلْقَرَنِيّ | |
The mosque in 2006, prior to its 2014 destruction | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shia (Twelver) (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque (former) |
| Status | Destroyed (by Islamic State) |
| Location | |
| Location | Raqqa |
| Country | Syria |
Location within Syria | |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°56′31.82″N 39°01′47.49″E / 35.9421722°N 39.0298583°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Completed | 2003 |
| Destroyed | 2014 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | One |
| Minaret(s) | One |
The Uwais al-Qarani Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد أُوَيْس ٱلْقَرَنِيّ, romanized: Masjid ʾUways al-Qaranīy) was a Twelver Shi'a mosque in Raqqa, Syria, until it was demolished by the Islamic State on May 31, 2014. As of 2025, it is currently awaiting reconstruction.
History
The former mosque contained the shrines of Ammar ibn Yasir and Owais al-Qarani, who died in the Battle of Siffin in 657 CE, which took place around 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Raqqa. It was adjacent to the Bab al-Baghdad, another major landmark in the city.[1][2]
Construction
The original tombs were located in the old cemetery at the edge of the city. In 1988, Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, initiated a project to develop a new mosque around the tombs. The work was completed in 2003 and a commemorative plaque credited President Bashar al-Assad and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami with completing the project.[3]
Destruction
In June 2013, rebel fighters from al-Muntasereen Billah militia were living in the mosque complex.[4] On 26 March 2014, the mosque was blown up by two powerful explosions and completely destroyed by the Islamic State because it was a Shi'a structure. More specifically, it was also built over graves and thus served as a shrine.[5][6][7][8]
See also
- Shia Islam in Syria
- List of mosques in Syria
- Destruction of cultural heritage by the Islamic State
- Destruction of early Islamic heritage sites in Saudi Arabia
- Tell Abu Hureyra
References
- ^ Mohammad, Inam (1978). Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar of Sehwan-Sharif. p. 87.
- ^ Ahmad, Naseem (2003). Religion and politics in Central Asia under Saljûqs. p. 198.
- ^ Kramer, Martin (April 16, 2013). "The Shiite crescent eclipsed" (photos). Flickr. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
- ^ Dziadosz, Alexander (June 21, 2013). "Special Report: Deepening ethnic rifts reshape Syria's towns". Reuters. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ "Islamists bomb Shi'ite shrine in eastern Syria: activists". Reuters. March 26, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ "Heritage sites ravaged by Syria's war". Al Jazeera English. December 24, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ Avaneesh Pandey (December 26, 2013). "Al-Nusra Rebels Demolish 13th Century Tomb In Southern Syria Deemed Un-Islamic By Salafists". Ibtimes.com. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ "War ravages Syria heritage sites". Business Insider. Agence France-Presse. December 24, 2014. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
External links
Media related to Awis al-Qarni Mosque at Wikimedia Commons