Al-Sahla Mosque: Difference between revisions

'''Sahla Mosque''' (Arabic: مسجد السهلة), also known as '''Suhayl Mosque''' (Arabic: مسجد سهیل), '''Banū Ẓafar Mosque''' (Arabic: مسجد بنی ظفر) and '''’Abd al-Qays Mosque''' (Arabic: مسجد عبدالقیس), is one of the best-known Islamic mosques built in the first century AH (7th century) by some Arabian tribes of [[Kufa]], about two kilometers northwest of the Jami' Mosque of Kufa.

The mosque is one of the oldest mosques associated with [[Imam Mahdi (a)]], the twelfth Shiite Imam. There is place (so-called “maqam”) in the mosque attributed to Imam Mahdi (a), and on some accounts, this mosque is where Imam Mahdi (a) will live after his [[Reappearance]]. In the Shiite culture, Sahla Mosque is the most important mosque after the [[Kufa Mosque]]. In different parts of the mosque’s courtyard, some [[mihrabs]] are built and are called after religious leaders, such as maqams (stances) of [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]], [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]], [[Ibrahim (a)]], [[Idris (a)]] and [[Khidr (a)]].

Sahla Mosque was built by the [[Banu Zafar]] tribe, a clan of [[Ansar]]. [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] allegedly took the Banu Zafar Mosque to be equivalent to the Kufa Mosque. The mosque is called Suhayl, because its architect was a person called Suhayl, and it is called ‘Abd al-Qays, because ‘Abd al-Qays was the tribe in whose area of residence the mosque was constructed, and it is called Banu Zafar, since they are a clan of the ‘Abd al-Qays tribe.

Ibn al-Faqih quoted Imam ‘Ali (a) as saying that: “there are four sacred places in [[Kufa]] in which four mosques have been constructed.” He was asked: “what are those mosques?” He replied: “one of them is the Zafar or Sahla Mosque”.

Sahla Mosque is located in eastern [[Najaf]], that is the old city of Kufa. It is located 10 kilometers northwest of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]’s holy shrine with 37 degrees of angle, and 2 kilometers northwest of the Kufa Mosque with 53 degrees of angle.

The geometrical shape of Sahla Mosque is approximately rectangular, with 140 meters of length, 125 meters of width, and an area of over 17500 square meters. The courtyard of the mosque is 125 and 140 meters with a wall of 22 meters tall. In each of the wall’s four sides, there are semicircular towers. In the middle of the eastern side of the wall, there is a [[minaret]] with 30 meters of height. The main gate of the mosque is in the middle of the eastern side adjacent to this minaret.

Sahla Mosque has three doors and a relatively tall minaret which was reconstructed in 1378 AH (1958).

According to a hadith from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]], God did not raise a prophet unless he said [[prayers]] in this mosque. Divine justice will appear in this place, and it is home to prophets, Imams and righteous persons. And according to a hadith from Imam al-Sajjad (a), if a person says two [[rak'as]] of prayer in Sahla Mosque, God will add two years to his or her life.

There are different [[mihrabs]] in different parts of the mosque’s courtyard attributed to different prophets and Imams (a). These are called “maqam” (stance). They are as follows:

* Maqam of Idris (a): it is located between the eastern and northern walls. It is also called the Maqam of [['Isa (a)]] (Jesus) and “Bayt al-Khidr” (Khidr’s house).

* Maqam of [[Salih (a)]]: it is located between southern and eastern walls. It is also known as the maqam of “Salihun” (righteous people) and prophets.

There is a maqam (stance) in Sahla Mosque attributed to Imam Mahdi (a), which is located in the middle of the mosque, between Maqam of Imam al-Sajjad (a) and that of Yunus (a). According to some hadiths, Imam Mahdi will reside in Sahla Mosque after his [[Reappearance]].

There are many manners and [[dhikrs]] mentioned in collections of [[Ziyara]] and supplications for Sahla Mosque, including saying prayers, reciting some chapters (suras) of the [[Quran]] as well as special supplications and dhikrs.