Al-Sahla Great Mosque
Masjid al-Sahla, on the edge of Kufa, is one of the most revered mosques in Shia tradition. It is tied to several prophets and, above all, to the Mahdi — the awaited Imam — whom many believe will dwell here after his return. Pilgrims gather on Wednesday nights to pray within its shrined corners.
The Mosque of the Awaited One
Narrated guide available in the app
4 stops to discover
- 1
A Mosque of Anticipation
Masjid al-Sahla, a short way from Najaf near Kufa, is among the most beloved mosques in the region. In Shia tradition it is tied to the awaited Mahdi, and pilgrims come through the night to pray and make supplication within its broad walls.
- 2
The Stations of the Prophets
Within the mosque stand several maqams remembered in tradition for prophets and righteous figures such as Ibrahim, Idris and al-Khidr. Pilgrims move quietly between them, pausing to pray at each.
- 3
Where Two Imams Prayed
Near the centre of this ancient Kufa mosque stand two stations marking spots where the fourth Imam, Zayn al-Abidin, and the sixth, Ja'far al-Sadiq, are remembered as having prayed. These maqams draw visitors into the very acts of devotion the mosque has hosted for over thirteen centuries.
- 4
A House of the Prophets
Around this mosque's courtyard runs a ring of mihrabs each named for a prophet or Imam, including stations of Ibrahim, Idris and Khidr. Tradition holds the site was a dwelling of these very prophets, and that every prophet is said to have prayed here.
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