Umayyad Mosque - Religious Significance

Religious Significance

The Umayyad Mosque holds great significance to Shia and traditional Sunni Muslims, as this was the destination of the ladies and children of the family of Muhammad, made to walk here from Iraq, following the Battle of Karbala. Furthermore it was the place where they were imprisoned for 60 days.

The following are structures found within the Mosque that bear great importance:

West Side:

• The entrance gate (known as "Bāb as-Sā‘at") – The door marks the location where the prisoners of Karbalā were made to stand for 72 hours before being brought inside. During this time, Yazīd I had the town and his palace decorated for their arrival.,

South Wing (main hall):

• Shrine of John the Baptist (Arabic: Yahyā‎) – According. Tafseer Durre Manthur Vol.6, p. 30-31. the Heavens and the Earth wept only for two people: John the Baptist and Husayn ibn ‘Alī
• A white pulpit – Marks the place where ‘Alī ibn Husayn addressed the court of Yazīd after being brought from Karbalā
• Raised floor (in front of the pulpit) – Marks the location where all the ladies and children (the household of Muhammad) were made to stand in the presence of Yazīd
• Wooden balcony (directly opposite the raised floor) – Marks the location where Yazīd sat in the court

East Wing:

• A prayer rug and Mihrāb encased in a glass cubicle – Marks the place where ‘Alī ibn Husayn used to pray while imprisoned in the castle after the Battle of Karbala
• A metallic, cuboidal indentation in the wall – Marks the place where the head of Husayn (grandson of Muhammad) was kept for display by Yazīd
• A metal cage – Marks the place where all the other heads of those who fell in Karbalā were kept within the Mosque