{{Short description|Twelver Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad, Iraq}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox religious building | building_name = Buratha Mosque | native_name = {{lang|ar|جامع براثا}} | religious_affiliation = Shia (Twelver) | tradition = | image = جامع براثا.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | caption = The mosque in 2015 | status = Mosque | functional_status = Active | map_type = Iraq Baghdad | map_relief = 1 | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Location of the mosque in Baghdad | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|33.3508333|N|44.3611111|E|type:landmark_region:IQ|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | location = Karkh, Baghdad, Baghdad Governorate | country = Iraq | municipality = | province = | website = | architect = | architecture_type = {{nowrap|Mosque architecture}} | architecture_style = Modern Iraqi | year_completed = {{ubl|7th century {{small|(historic)}}|1955 {{small|(current structure)}}}} | construction_cost = | capacity = 1,000–3,000 worshippers | dome_quantity = One | dome_height_outer = | dome_dia_outer = | minaret_quantity = Two | minaret_height = }} The '''Buratha Mosque''' ({{langx|ar|جامع براثا}}) is a Twelver Shi'ite mosque, located in the Karkh district of Baghdad, Iraq. It is an important holy site for Twelver Shi'ites.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" /> The mosque was allegedly built in the 7th century over an old Nestorian Christian monastery, and it is now located at least {{convert|5|km}} from the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque.<ref name=":3" />
== History == Local tradition ascribes the construction of the mosque to be in the 7th century.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The traditional account states that the mosque was formerly a monastery for the Nestorian Christians, managed by a monk named Hebar. When Hebar met with Ali ibn Abi Talib, he accepted Islam and converted the monastery into an Islamic place of worship.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The mosque in that form existed until the 10th century, when the Abbasid Caliph Al-Radi ordered the demolition of the mosque as an attack against the Shi'ite communities.<ref name=":4" /> After the mosque was demolished, locals complained of the matter to the governor of Baghdad, whom rebuilt the mosque and inscribed the name of the Caliph Al-Radi there to prevent it from being demolished.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |author=Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad |title=What is the history and significance of Masjid Buratha in Baghdad? |url=https://www.al-islam.org/ask/what-is-the-history-and-significance-of-masjid-buratha-in-baghdad |date=n.d. |access-date=5 July 2025 |work=Al-Islam.org }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=Masjid Buratha Baghdad |work=DUAS.org |date=n.d. |url=https://duas.org/masjid-buratha.html |access-date= }}</ref>
=== Modern history === Renovations to the mosque happened in the years 1659 and 1933. In 1955, the mosque was completely rebuilt with local efforts, and two new minarets were introduced to the structure.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |script-title=ar:جامع براثا ومقام الإمام علي (عليه السلام) - موقع قسم الشؤون الدينية - العتبة العلوية المقدسة |url=https://tableegh.imamali.net/index.php?id=1367 |date= |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=tableegh.imamali.net |lang=ar }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |script-title=ar:التعريف في الجامع والروايات التي تخصه |url=https://www.buratha.com/arabic/burathahistory/3517 |date= |access-date=2024-04-04 |script-website=ar:جامع براثا |lang=ar }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2017-07-14 |script-title=ar:إطلالة تاريخية مختصرة عن تاريخ جامع بُراثا الشيعي , كهف العجائب، |url=http://burathanews.com/arabic/articles/151559 |access-date=2024-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714001824/http://burathanews.com/arabic/articles/151559 |archive-date=2017-07-14 |lang=ar }}</ref>
==== 2006 bombing ==== {{main|Buratha mosque bombing}} In 2006, three suicide bombers, two out of three disguised as women, detonated themselves in the mosque compound, leaving 85 dead and 160 wounded.<ref name="bbc7-4-06">{{Cite news |date=2006-04-07 |work=BBC News |title=Dozens die in Iraq mosque attack |language=en-GB |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4887856.stm |access-date=2023-05-11 |archive-date=2019-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524155430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4887856.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The attack was also a targeted attack against the Iraqi politician Jalaluddin al-Saghir, who was present in the mosque at the time as its main preacher. However, Saghir was not harmed by the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4881194.stm |title=Life in Iraq: Day at a glance |work=BBC News |date=2006-04-07 |access-date= }}</ref>
== Religious significance == The Buratha Mosque is a significant holy place for Twelver Shi'ites due to its association with Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is narrated in Shi'ite holy books that Ali rested here after a fight with the Khawarij. Another miraculous event reported by the Shi'ites is that Ali struck a stone in the floor of the mosque, which revealed a fresh spring.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
=== Christian significance === Some have believed that the rock in the mosque belongs to the Virgin Mary.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> It is also believed that Patriarch Abraham and subsequent Patriarchs after him prayed at the site, and one of such Patriarchs is buried in the mosque.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2016-02-04 |title=Historic perspective of Al-Buratha mosque – International Shia News Agency |url=https://en.shafaqna.com/27612/historic-perspective-of-al-buratha-mosque/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == {{stack|{{portal|Iraq|Shia Islam}}}} thumb|The mihrab of the mosque * Shia Islam in Iraq * List of mosques in Baghdad
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category-inline}}
{{Mosques in Iraq}}
Category:20th-century mosques in Iraq Category:Attacks on mosques in the 2010s Category:Christian monasteries in Iraq Category:Former Christian monasteries Category:Mosque buildings with domes in Iraq Category:Mosque buildings with minarets in Iraq Category:Mosques completed in 1955 Category:Mosques in Baghdad Category:Shia mosques in Iraq Category:Twelver Shia mosques