History of the holy Rowza ( tomb )of Imam Husayn (JJ).

Imam Husayn [JJ] was buried at this sacred spot.

Chronology of Imam Husayn’s Shrine at Karbala.

The historian Ibn Kuluwayh mentioned that those who buried Imam Husayn [JJ], made a special and rigid construction with signs above the grave. Higher and bigger constructions above the grave started during the ruling of Al-Saffah, but Harun al-Rashid later on, put heavy restrictions to prevent people from visiting the grave. At the time of Al-Mamun, construction around the grave resumed until the year 236 AH when Al – Mutawakkil ordered the destruction and digging of the grave, and then filling the pit with water. His son, who succeeded him, allowed people to visit the grave site, and since then building the precinct to the grave increased and developed step by step.

On the other hand, the historian Ibn Al-Asir, stated that in the year 371 AH, Aadod Al-Dawla Al-Boowayhi became the first to largely lay the foundations for large scale construction, and generously decorated the place. He also built houses and markets around the precinct, and surrounded Karbala with a high boundary wall turning it into a strong castle. In the year 407 AH, the precinct caught fire due to the dropping of two large candles on the wooden decorations, but Hasan ibn Fazl (the state minister) rebuilt the damaged sections.

History has recorded the names of several rulers who shared the honor of widening, decorating or keeping the precinct in good condition. Amongst them is Fateh Ali al-Qajari, who in 1250 AH ordered the construction of two domes. One over Imam Husayn’s [JJ] grave and the other over his brother Abu al – Fazl Abbas [as]. The first dome is 27 meters high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with 12 windows, each of which is about 1.25 m away from the other, from the inside, and 1.30 m from the outside.

The mausoleum has an area of 59 m / 75 m with ten gates, and about 65 rooms (I wans), well decorated from the inside and outside, used as classrooms for studying. As for the grave itself, in the middle of the precinct, it is called the “Rawza” or garden and it has several doors. The most famous one is called “Al-Qibla” or “Bab -al- zahab”. When it is entered, one can see the tomb of Habib ibn Mazahir al- Asavi (Reh), to the right hand side. Habib was a friend and companion of Imam Husayn [JJ] since their childhood. He was one of those who was honored with martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala.

Chronology of Imam Husayn’s Shrine at Karbala

AH	CE	Events
61	lst October, 680	Imam Husayn [a] was buried at this sacred spot.
65	18th August, 684	Mukhtar ibn Abu Obaidah Thaqafi built an enclosure around the grave, in the form of a mosque and erected a dome over the grave. There were two entrances to this building.
132	12th August, 749	A roof was built over a part of this mosque and two entrances were added during the reign of As – Saffah.
140	31st March, 763	The roof was demolished during the reign of al-Mansur.
158	11th November, 774	During the reign of Mahdi the roof was reconstructed.
171	22nd June, 787	During the reign of Al-Rashid the dome and the roof were demolished and the plum tree which stood near the grave was cut down.
193	25th October, 808	During the reign of Amin the building was reconstructed.
236	15th July, 850	Mutawakkil demolished the buildings and ordered that the land should be ploughed.
247	17th March, 861	Muntasir built a roof over the grave and set up an iron pillar near it, to serve as a landmark for the pilgrims.
273	8th June, 886	The roof was demolished again.
280	23rd March, 893	The Alid representative built a dome in the center, with two roofs, on either side and an enclosure with two entrances.
307	19th August, 977	Adad ibn Boweih rebuilt the dome, the surrounding galleries and constructed a screen of teak wood around the sepulcher. He also constructed houses all round the shrine and erected the boundary wall of the city. At the same time Imran ibn Shahin built a mosque adjacent to the tomb.
407	10th June, 1016	The buildings were damaged by fire and the Vizier, Al – Hasan ibn al Fazi rebuilt them.
620	4th February, 1223	Nasir ud din-Illah reconstructed the screens of the sepulcher.
757	18th Sept. 1365	Sultan Owais ibn Hasan Jalairi remodeled the dome and raised the walls of the enclosure.
780	24th Feb. 1384	Ahmad ibn Owais erected two minarets covered with gold and extended the courtyard.
920	26th Feb. 1514	When Shah Ismail Safawi visited the holy shrine he built a sarcophagus of the inlaid work over the grave.
1032	5th Nov. 1622	Shah Abbas Safavi constructed the screens (Zarih) of brass and bronze and decorated the dome with Kashi tiles.
1048	15th May 1638	Sultan Murad IV, when he visited the holy shrine, white washed the dome.
1155	8th March 1742	Nadir Shah visited the holy shrine and decorated the building and offered valuable presents to the treasury of the shrine.
1211	7th July 1796	Shah Muhammad Qachar covered the dome of the shrine with gold.
1216	14th May, 1801	Wahhabis attacked Kerbala, spoiled the screens and portico and looted the shrine.
1232	21st Nov., 1817	Fateh Ali Shah Qachar repaired the screens and plated them with silver. He also plated the center of the main portico with gold and repaired the damage done by the Wahhabi robbers.
1283	16th May, 1866	Nasiruddin Shah Qachar extended the courtyard of the shrine.
1358	21st February, 1939	Dr. Syedna Tahir Saifud-din, 51st Dai-el-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra community offered a set of screens of solid silver which are fixed in the shrine.
1360	29th January, 1941	Dr. Syedna Tahir Saifud-din, 5lst Dai-el-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohra community rebuilt the western minaret.
1367	20th Dec., 1948	Syed Abdul Rasul Khalsi, Administrator of Karbala acquired the houses in the neighborhood of the courtyard according to the price fixed by the government, to build a road around the holy Rowza and to extend the courtyard.

After 20^th December, 1948 till now the said holy tomb of our holy Imam have been decorated day by day and despite of deadly opposition of Saddam of Iraq’s long time of dictatorship there was regular development all the time with the special funds provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the believers of the world. May Lord bless them all and there will be uncountable reward for them all in hereafter.

Dr ( Rev ) .Syed Akbar Abbas.