Al Sahlah mosque is one of the significant holy places for Muslims. This masjid is situated in the city of Kufa, Iraq. It is believed that this mosque was built in the neighborhood of Kufa for the followers of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib as. It is said to be future residence of Imam Mehdi ajf, the twelfth Imam of Muslims.
Architectural information
| Length | 140 meter |
| Width | 125 meter |
| Area | 17500 square meters |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Minaret(s) | 1 |
| Minaret Height | 30 meter |
Significance of Mosque Al Sahlah
There are various reasons that Al-Sahlah mosque is significant among other mosques in Iraq. Few reasons are being mentioned below.
- It is considered to be a resident of Imam Mehdi ajf after his final appearance on the World.
- This mosque has already served as home for prophets such as Hazrat Ibrahim as, Hazrat Idrees as and Hazrat Khizr as.
- Every prophet has established their prayers within the mosque.
- If you visit this mosque and establish 2 unit prayers, it will grant protection and safety for the entire year.
- The final trumpet for the Day of Judgment will be blown from this place.
It is said that around 70 thousand people will revive from this place and they will enter the paradise without questioning.
Hadiths for Mosque Al Sahlah
Hadith #1
Abu Bakr al Hadrami narrates:
I asked Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar Sadiq (asws), “What is the best place after Masjid al Haram and Masjid al Nabwi?”
Imam (asws) replied, “Kufa. O Abu Bakr! Kufa is a pure and virtuous land. It contains the graves of the messengers, the prophets and the truthful successors. Therein is also the Masjid of Sahlah in which every prophet sent by Allah has prayed. The Adl (justice) of Allah (Imam e Zamana atfs) will reappear from this city. Qaim (atfs) and those who will lead after Him shall live in it. Indeed it is the place of the prophets, successors, and the righteous.”
Ref: Kamil e Ziarat, page 34
Hadith #2
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib as narrates:
“No anguished person goes to this mosque, prays in it, and supplicates to God, without God relieving him of his grief and granting him his request.”
Ref: al-Qummi, Ja’far ibn Qūlawayh (2008). Kāmil al-Ziyārāt. trans. Sayyid Mohsen al-Husaini al-Mīlāni.
Hadith #3
The author of Mafatih-ul-Jinan, the venerated “mohaddis”, Shaikh Abbas-e-Qummi (r.a.) – besides being a great Mujtahid was also an authority on traditions. He narrates from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) about the greatness of the Holy Masjid-e-Sehlah.
Imam tells Abu Baseer, “This is one of the places liked by Allah. No day or night passes except that angels descend on this holy masjid and worship in it. If I had been close to this place then I too would have prayed all my prayers only in this masjid.”
Then he further added, “O Abu Mohammad! The distinctions of this masjid that have not been narrated surpass those which have been narrated.
Abu Baseer asked, “May I be sacrificed on you! Will Hazrat-e-Qaem (a.s.) always be in this masjid?
He replied, “Yes”
Maqams in Mosque Al Sahlah
There are different mihrabs in different parts of the mosque’s courtyard attributed to different prophets and Imams. These are called “maqam” (stance). They are as follows:
- Maqam of Ibrahim (a): it is located in the northwestern part, between the western and northern walls.
- Maqam of Yunus (a) (Prophet Jonah): it is located in the southwestern part, between the southern and western walls.
- Maqam of Idris (a): it is located between the eastern and northern walls. It is also called the maqam of ‘Isa (a) (Jesus) and “Bayt al-Khidr” (Khidr’s house).
- Maqam of Salih (a): it is located between southern and eastern walls. It is also known as the maqam of “Salihun” (righteous people) and prophets.
- Maqam of Imam al-Sajjad (a): it is located in the middle of the mosque, towards the eastern part.
- Maqam of Imam al-Sadiq (a): it is located exactly in the middle of the mosque. According to historical accounts, Imam al-Sadiq (a) used to reside there for a while for worshiping and praying.
- Maqam of Imam al-Mahdi (a): it is located in the middle of the mosque, towards the southern part, between Maqam of Imam al-Sajjad (a) and that of Yunus (a).
There are many manners and dhikrs mentioned in collections of ziyaras and supplications for al-Sahla Mosque, including saying prayers, reciting some suras of the Qur’an as well as special supplications and dhikrs.
