The Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque (Arabic: مسجد المستعصم بالله), formerly the Abu Rabi'ah Mosque, is an Islamic mosque and shrine located in the district of al-A'dhamiyya in Baghdad, Iraq. A historic structure renovated in modern times, it contains the tomb of the last Abbasid Caliph, al-Musta'sim. It was also known as Mashhad al-Wu'ud, before it became a mosque.
| Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque | |
|---|---|
 The grave of the last Abbasid Caliph, al-Musta'sim, inside the mosque | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Province | Baghdad Governorate |
| Location | |
| Location | Adhamiyah, Baghdad, Iraq |
  Shown within Iraq | |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°22′17″N 44°21′48″E / 33.3714557°N 44.3632855°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Modern, with elements from Abbasid architecture |
| Completed | 2005 (current structure) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 200 worshippers |
| Dome(s) | 1 (shrine) |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
| Minaret height | 30 metres |
Historical background
editOriginally, the site was the location of a shrine known as Mashhad al-Wu'ud, built over the grave of Ahmad al-Sabti, who was the son of the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid and a Sufi mystic.[1][2][3] The Abbasid Caliph, al-Musta'sim was killed by Hulegu Khan's forces in the 1258 Siege of Baghdad, his remains were transferred to this location and reburied.[1][4][3] His daughter (or granddaughter) Rabi'ah was also buried here later on, and a shrine was built for her too, hence the name of the mosque was the Abu Rabi'ah Mosque.[1][2]
Modern discovery
editBefore discovering the Caliph's tomb, it was traditionally believed that al-Musta'sim was buried in the Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi. In 1993, an archaeological excavation was conducted at the mosque. The historian Imad Abd al-Salam Ra'uf, who was involved in the excavations, was able to find the tombstone of the deceased Caliph.[5][4] The mosque and the attached tomb were renovated in 2005.[5][3][4] It was almost completely rebuilt with modern architecture.[2] A room for the Imam and other necessities were added to the mosque's structure.[3]
Specifications
editThe building has an area of 1000 m2 and can accommodate 200 worshippers.[3][6][2] Almost no trace of the original mosque remain, having been replaced by a modern structure.[3][6][2] A small dome remains over the tomb of Caliph al-Musta'sim, and all other historical features of the tomb have disappeared.[3][6][2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Al-Amiri, Hamid (2020). "Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque and Shrine". Wad Alakli News (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e f "Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque". areq.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g Merza, Serur (11 April 2020). "The scene of the vows or the grave of the vows, in which the grave of Caliph al-Musta'nsir Billah was discovered in al-Nasa neighborhood in al-A'dhamiyya". Al-Gardeniyya: Public Cultural Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c "In this video, see where the Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim Billah lies". Al-Jazeera.net (in Arabic). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b Al-Ali, Yusuf (2021). "Imad Abd al-Salam Ra'uf, an Iraqi thinker who loved history and found the grave of the last Abbasid Caliph". Al-Estiklal.
- ^ a b c Ibrahim, Amir Jalil (25 October 2021). "Al-Musta'sim Billah, the last caliph of the Abbasid State". IMN Magazine (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-04-02.