Kirka Sharif ( ps, خرقه شريفه Shrine of the Cloak) is an

Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...

shrine located in present-day

Kandahar Kandahar (; Kandahār, , Qandahār) is a List of cities in Afghanistan, city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on the Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city after Kabul, with a population ...

, Afghanistan. The shrine became notable in literature during the

Second Anglo-Afghan War The Second Anglo-Afghan War (Dari: جنگ دوم افغان و انگلیس, ps, د افغان-انګرېز دويمه جګړه) was a military conflict fought between the British Raj and the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the l ...

, when the

British Indian army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

were trying to gain influence in Afghanistan. The shrine houses a mantle or cloak, believed to be the

cloak of Muhammad The Cloak of Muhammad () is a relic located in the Kirka Sharif in Kandahar, Afghanistan. It is a cloak believed to have been worn by the Islamic prophet Muhammad during the Night Journey in 621 AD. The cloak itself is locked away inside the m ...

, as worn by the Islamic prophet Muhammad during the

Night Journey The Israʾ and Miʿraj ( ar, الإسراء والمعراج, ') are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the Islamic prophet Muhammad (570–632) took during a single night around the year 621 (1 BH – 0 BH). With ...

in the year 621.

Cloak of Muhammed

This cloak or mantle reached Kirka Sharif when it was donated by the Afghan ruler

Ahmed Shah Durrani Ahmad Shāh Durrānī ( ps, احمد شاه دراني; prs, احمد شاه درانی), also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī (), was the founder of the Durrani Empire and is regarded as the founder of the modern Afghanistan. In July 1747, Ahma ...

(1722–1773), the father of modern Afghanistan and founder of the

Durrani Empire The Durrani Empire ( ps, د درانيانو ټولواکمني; fa, امپراتوری درانیان) or the Afghan Empire ( ps, د افغانان ټولواکمني, label=none; fa, امپراتوری افغان, label=none), also know ...

. The sacred Muslim object itself had been given to Ahmed Shah by the amir of Bukhara around 1768. The cloak is said to have been worn by the Islamic prophet Muhammad during the famous

Isra and Mi'raj The Israʾ and Miʿraj ( ar, الإسراء والمعراج, ') are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the Islamic prophet Muhammad (570–632) took during a single night around the year 621 (1 BH – 0 BH). Wit ...

, or Night Journey, in the year 621. It is one of the most revered relics in the Muslim world.

Friday Mosque

The shrine is attached to a mosque. The mosque's design follows many principles of Islamic architecture and local customs, with the interior being decorated and carved with green marble from

Helmand Helmand (Pashto/Dari: ; ), also known as Hillmand, in ancient times, as Hermand and Hethumand, is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, in the south of the country. It is the largest province by area, covering area. The province contains 13 ...

region of Afghanistan. In addition, it has tiles that are mirrored with gilded detailing. The mosque also has a courtyard and gravestone located on the premises of the shrine. The walls of the shrine are decorated with carvings, common in many Islamic mosques. The carvings of this mosque have trees and other foliage, and the designs are unique to each wall.

Tomb of Ahmed Shah

Next to the Kirka Sharif is the

Tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani The Tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani is located in Kandahar, Afghanistan. It is the most important historical monument in Kandahar. Ahmad Shah Durrani, fondly known as Ahmad Shah Baba, Father of Afghanistan, ruled an empire from Kandahar from 1747-17 ...

, the founder of the

References

External links

* {{Kandahar Province Buildings and structures in Kandahar Islam in Afghanistan Mosques in Afghanistan