The Al-Musta'sim Billah Mosque (), formerly the Abu Rabi'ah Mosque, is a

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

and shrine located in the district of al-A'dhamiyya in

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

. An historic structure renovated in modern times, it contains the tomb of the last

Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...

Caliph,

al-Musta'sim Abu Ahmad Abdallah ibn al-Mustansir bi'llah (), better known by his laqab, regnal title Al-Mustaʿṣim bi-llāh (; 1213 – 20 February 1258), was the 37th and last caliph from the Abbasid dynasty ruling from Baghdad. He held the title from 12 ...

. It was also known as Mashhad al-Wu'ud, before it became a mosque.

Historical background

Originally, the site was the location of a shrine known as Mashhad al-Wu'ud, built over the grave of Ahmad al-Sabti, who was the son of the Abbasid Caliph

Harun al-Rashid Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ar-Rāshīd (), or simply Hārūn ibn al-Mahdī (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Hārūn al-Rāshīd (), was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from September 786 unti ...

and a

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

mystic. The Abbasid Caliph,

was killed by

Hulegu Khan Hulegu Khan, also known as Hülegü or Hulagu; ; ; ; ( 8 February 1265), was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Western Asia. As a son of Tolui and the Keraite princess Sorghaghtani Beki, he was a grandson of Genghis Khan and brother of Ar ...

's forces in the 1258

Siege of Baghdad The siege of Baghdad took place in early 1258. A large army commanded by Hulegu, a prince of the Mongol Empire, attacked the historic capital of the Abbasid Caliphate after a series of provocations from its ruler, caliph al-Musta'sim. Within ...

, his remains were transferred to this location and reburied. His daughter (or granddaughter) Rabi'ah was also buried here later on, and a shrine was built for her too, hence the name of the mosque was the Abu Rabi'ah Mosque.

Modern discovery

Before discovering the Caliph's tomb, it was traditionally believed that al-Musta'sim was buried in the Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi. In 1993, an archaeological excavation was conducted at the mosque. The historian Imad Abd al-Salam Ra'uf, who was involved in the excavations, was able to find the tombstone of the deceased Caliph. The mosque and the attached tomb were renovated in 2005. It was almost completely rebuilt with modern architecture. A room for the

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

and other necessities were added to the mosque's structure.

Specifications

The building has an area of and can accommodate 200 worshippers. Almost no trace of the original mosque remain, having been replaced by a modern structure. A small dome remains over the tomb of Caliph al-Musta'sim, and all other historical features of the tomb have disappeared.

References

{{Mosques in Iraq Mosques in Baghdad Mosque buildings with domes in Iraq Burial sites of the Abbasid dynasty Mosque buildings with minarets in Iraq Sunni mosques in Iraq

Historical background

Modern discovery

Specifications

See also

References