Kufa, Iraq
Coordinates: 32.028600, 44.400800
The Great Mosque of Kufa, or Masjid al-Kufa, is located in Kufa, Iraq and is one of the earliest and holiest surviving mosques in the world.
The mosque, built in the 7th century, was home to Hz. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه, the 4th Rashidun caliph.
You can see the mihrab of Hz. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه where he used to pray in this mosque
It was also the place where Hz. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه was fatally wounded by a poison-coated sword while prostrating in the Fajr prayer.
And contains the remains of Hz. Maytham al-Tammar رضي الله عنه, Ali’s companion; Hz. Muslim ibn Aqeel رضي الله عنه, first cousin of Hz. Imam Husayn ibn Ali رضي الله عنه, his companion Hz. Hani ibn Urwa رضي الله عنه; and Al-Mukhtar.
There are markers within the mosque indicating the locations for where the court of Hz. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه used to preside, where he عليه اسلام performed miracles, and where Imam Zayn al-Abidin رضي الله عنه and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq رضي الله عنه used to perform Salah.
Some Legends regarding the site of the mosque
Sources attribute the construction of the Great Mosque of Kufa in the middle of the 7th century to the second Caliph Hz. Umar رضي الله عنه.
There is a legend that says the edifice was built on a masjid constructed by Hz. Adam عليه اسلام while another claims that Hz. Adam’s عليه اسلام bones were buried on the site, having been carried by Hz. Nuh عليه اسلام on board the Ark.
It is also believed that the angel Hz. Jibrael عليه اسلام was referring to the mosque when he declared, “Twelve miles of lands from all directions of the mosque are blessed by its holiness.”
The site was identified in Shia Islam as the place where Hz. Nuh عليه اسلام was ordered by Allah to build his Ark.
Also According to Shia belief, it was from this mosque that the diluvium during Hz. Nuh عليه اسلام started submerging earth, as well as being the place from where the water was re-absorbed – also marked within the Mosque.
Architectural excavations revealed that the mosque, which dates from 670, was built on top of much older foundations.
Significance of the mosque
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq رضي الله عنه said that up to twelve miles of land in all directions from the mosque are blessed by its holiness.
In Some Traditions it is said that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq رضي الله عنه was also recorded as remarking that the “mosque in Kufa is superior to that of Jerusalem” and that “performing two prostrations of prayer here would be better for me than ten others at any mosque.”
There are also Shia traditions which state that performing one prayer in this mosque is the same as having performed one thousand prayers elsewhere, and performing one obligatory prayer here is equal to having performed an accepted Hajj.
The secretariat of Al-Kufa Mosque and its shrines describes the mosque as being one of the sole four dignified mosques to which Muslims must travel, and that it comes in third place after the Kaaba and the mosque of Prophet.”
According to Shia belief, it is from this mosque that the messianic twelfth Imam, Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdi, will rule the world from, and it will serve as the seat of his power in the end of times.
Renovations
In recent history, the mosque has seen numerous renovations primarily under the purview of the Dawoodi Bohras, led by Mufaddal Saifuddin.
