Holy Shrine of al-Sayyida Zaynab (a): Difference between revisions

'''The holy shrine of Lady Zaynab (a)''' is one of the places said to be the burial places for [[Lady Zaynab (a)]], daughter of [[Imam Ali (a)]], located in south of [[Damascus]] in [[Syria]]. This place is among pilgrimage cites for [[Shia]]. The area in which the shrine of Lady Zaynab (s) is located has been a village called Rawiya. Now, this area is called al-Sayyida Zaynab town and known to Iranians as "Zaynabiyya".

The shrine of Lady Zaynab (s) has been several times reconstructed and expanded during history. Since 2012, after the crisis worsened in Syria and [[Takfiri]] terrorists emerged in this country, this holy shrine was attacked by mortars and suicide bombings several times and some parts of the shrine were destroyed. Following these attacks, different groups of people went to Syria to defend the shrines of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]. These groups known as "Mudafi'an-i Haram" (defenders of the shrine) have so far (2016) prevented terrorist groups attack the holy shrine of Lady Zaynab (s).

According to researches, there is no source available until 5th/[[11th century]] to show that there was a tomb or dome built upon the burial place of [[Lady Zaynab (a)]]. Only one source in 2nd/[[8th century]] refers to the existence of a pilgrimage cite at the current location. According to the report of a woman related to [[Alawi]] families called [[Sayyida Nafisa]] bt. Hasan al-Anwar, a descendant of [[Imam Ali (a)]]; in [[193]]/808-9, she visited the pilgrimage cite for Lady Zaynab (a) in Rawiya of [[Damascus]]. After this date, there is another report in [[500]]/1106-7 which mentions that a person from [[Aleppo]] built a [[mosque]] at the pilgrimage cite for Lady Zaynab (a) in that year.

In his report, Ibn Jubayr mentions the existence of the shrine of Lady Zaynab (a) in the village of Rawiya, about 6 kilometers (a parasang) away from [[Damascus]] and says, "a large mosque is built there and there are houses outside it. There are also dedicated lands around it. People know these regions as the grave of Umm Kulthum." He finally mentions that he stayed there and visited the shrine of Lady Zaynab (a). Abu Bakr al-Hirawi (d. [[611]]/1214-5) also visited the shrine of Lady Zaynab (s) and has a report about it.

The holy shrine of Lady Zaynab (a) is located in the south of [[Damascus]], in a region called al-Sayyida Zaynab (a). This region is part of Reef Damascus province. The building of shrine includes a great courtyard with square area and the tomb is located at its center, which has a dome and two tall minarets. The minarets and walls of the courtyard and inside areas are tiled by [[Iran]]ian tile-work artists.  

In the area of the shrine of Lady Zaynab (a) and the cemeteries around it, some [[Shia]] scholars and famous people are buried. For example, in the entrance corridor to the west courtyard, the graves of [[Al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin|Sayyid Muhsin Amin al-'Amili]] and [[Sayyid Husayn Makki al-'Amili]], the two Shia schoalrs from [[Syria]] are located. In the cemetery at the north of the shrine, the grave of Dr. [[Ali Shari'ati]] is there. Also, in another cemetery in the south of the shrine, the grave of Sayyid Mustafa Jamal al-Din, the contemporary [[Iraq]]i poet is located.

After great distribution of Takfiri terrorists in Syria and taking different regions of the country, many pilgrimage cites in regions under their control were demolished by their agents. Meanwhile, the shrine of Lady Zaynab (a) was several times hit by Takfiri terrorists' mortar and suicide attacks. Takfiri terrorists several times advanced near the shrine of Lady Zaynab (a), but they moved back after encountering the resistance of [[Shia]] and residents of the region.

Following Takfiri terrorists' threat to demolish the shrines of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] and especially the shrine of Lady Zaynab, many groups of Shia from other countries, especially [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Afghanistan]] went to Syria in order to defend the shrines of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and pilgrimage cites. Also, different groups from Iran went to Syria to defend the shrine, among which there were also military counselors as well.

* In [[1302]]/1884-5, the shrine was rebuilt and expanded by Sultan 'Abd al-'Aziz Khan 'Uthmani and the helps of traders.

* Expansion of the shrine in [[1370]]/1950 was made by [[Al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin|Allama al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin]] and with the helps of traders. At that time, the old building was destroyed and the new building was made so that the courtyard and the interior areas could be expanded.

* Reconstruction of the shrine after the attacks of [[Takfiri]] terrorist groups: following the increase of Takfiri terrorist groups' mortar and suicide attacks to the shrine of Lady Zaynab (a), some parts of the dome, courtyards and the doors were damaged. Therefore, the committee for reconstruction of Great Shrines consider the plan of repairing and reconstructing the dome and doors of the shrine which had more damages. Thus, the damaged spots were repaired using the golds people of [[Khuzestan province]] had donated.