Shrine

A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific hero, martyr, saint, or similar figure of respect, at which they are venerated.

194443

Shrine . Moon . Karbala

Is it allowed to build a large crescent Hilal structure outside the holy shrine of Al-Hussain (as) in Karbala, given that such symbols are associated with the worship of the moon goddess in paganism?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 10 months ago

The shrine of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala has number of religious scholars who supervise all the work, services and operations of the shrine and they very well what is their Islamic duties. Different symbols can have different meanings in different places.

Wassalam.

182858

Shrine . Matam

I am concerned about the practice of 'Laytm al Shoor' and its impact on the reputation of Shia Islam. Is this practice considered acceptable, and why is it allowed in the shrine despite the negative perception it creates?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 1 year ago

Sometimes it is better not to worry too much about what other people are thinking. Sometimes, Shi'a are especially concerned about seeming strange to Sunnis or on the world stage. While this is understandable out of fear of killing or persecution, most, if not all, of the world's religions have practices that seem bizarre to others.

At the same time, many types of practices are similar across world religions because they serve a same function with respect to our psychology and spirituality, especially involving sound, recitation, and movement. Sometimes these things are also what keep a person in the religion in difficult times, rather than formal and serious things like formal scholarship.

So sometimes it is better just to let people do things how they would like to do it, when it comes to optional (non-wajib) religious ceremonies and commemorations, even if it doesn't match one's own preference; one can always abstain and do something else.

136553

Masah . Ring . Water . Hadith . Shrine . Barakah

Can you share any narration from any Imam talking about making Masah of a piece of cloth, ring or water bottle with the Zareeh of any Imam in order to give it blessing?

Quranic verses in Sura Yousuf are the strongest evidence in this matter.

Prophet Yousuf told his brothers: Take this shirt of mine and cast it on the face of my father, he will turn clear-sighted. (12:93).

'We have many authentic narrations on the blessings which can be obtained by touching (Masah) of blessed items like Black stone, Zareeh of most humble servants of Allah, Quranic text, etc.

Wassalam.

107024

India . Face . Shrine

In which direction from India should we turn to face the shrine of Imam Hussain (as)?

The direction of Karbala from India is very near to the direction of Qibla from India. You can refer to local Ulama in your area for more details.

Wassalam.

93744

Grave . Shrine . Ahl al-Bayt

I read that there are some narrations in Tahdheeb al-Ahkam whereby our Imams (as) prohibited construction over graves. Is this true? If so, what is the ruling of the tombstones and shrines over the graves of our Imams?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 5 years ago

"…Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid." Quran 18:21

We can understand from this ayah, about the people of the cave, the permissibility of building masajid at burial sights of respected individuals.

Also, refer to Kamil al Ziyarat for many narrations about the significance of visiting Imam Hussain's (as) shrine.

88365

Grave . Shrine . Ruqayya bt. al-Husayn

Was the grave of Sayyeda Ruqayya bintul Hussain (a) shifted from Yazid's prison to the place where her shrine currently stands? If so, when did that happen?

No, it was not shifted. Ruqayyah Bit Al-Husain (AS) passed away in the same place where her grave is now. Yazeed put the captives from Ahlul Bayt (AS) when they reached to Shaam in a ruined ground not too far from his palace in Damascus. Ruqayyah was crying for her father Imam Husain (AS). Yazeed sent to her the head of her father covered in a tray. She got deadly shock when she saw the head of her father and passed away. She was buried in the same place.

Wassalam.

65270

Ahl al-Bayt . Shrine

Are there any Shia traditions from the Prophet Muhammed (saw) or the Imams (as) about building shrines for them?

Yes, there are many authentic Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) encouraging building their shrines. In Kitab Al-Tahtheeb ( V.6, P. 22 ) which is one of our most authentic books of Hadeeth, narrated by 'Omara Ibn Zaid, from Abi 'Aamir the preacher of Hijaz who sai: I went to Abi Abdillah Jafar Ibn Mohammad ( Al-Sadiq) (AS) and asked him about the reward of visiting and building the shrine of Ameerul Mo'mineen (AS). Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq ( AS) narrated from his father, from his grand fathers, from Imam Ali, from the Prophet (SAWA) great reward for those believers build the shrines of Ahlul Bayt (AS) and visit them. They will get special intercetion Shafa'ah of the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt and will be with the Prophet in the Paradise. Those who help in building the shrines of Ahlul Bayt (AS) will get the reward of helping the Prophet Sulaiman in building Baitul Maqdis holy Masjid.
There is another Hadeeth in this meaning in Al-Tahtheeb, V. 6, P. 107.

Wassalam.

55340

Shrine . Samarrah . Imam Ali al-Hadi al-Naqi . Imam Hasan al-Askari . Ziyarat

Are there any narrations that talk about the reward of making Ziyara to the shrines of Imam al-Hadi and Imam Hassan al-Askari in Samarra?

I am not personally aware of narrations specifically encouraging the visiting of those sites. (Someone may correct me!) However, there are ziyarat texts narrated for them.

However, there are narrations encouraging the visiting of all of the Imams, which would include them, and it is good to go and pay respects as a gesture of loyalty and to help maintain a tie with the history and people who once walked there and were laid to rest there. Some people might also want to go as a form of resistance to the oppression that Shi'a face today and to make a stand to show that we will not be afraid to go, and that is also good.

That being said, there are a lot of narrations emphasizing visiting other places, such as Mecca, Medina, Karbala, Najaf, and Mashhad, so I would personally place the emphasis on visiting those places first.