This is believed to be the location of the grave of
Prophet Uzair [Ezra] (upon him be peace). It is in
the Amarah province in Iraq.
(more to follow)
References: Wikipedia , www.jafariyanews.com
Prophet Uzair [Ezra] (upon him be peace). It is in
the Amarah province in Iraq.
(more to follow)
References: Wikipedia , www.jafariyanews.com
Article from jafariyanews
Prophet Ezra's tomb in Iraq is now a Muslim shrine
By: Mohamed Ali
By: Mohamed Ali
LOS ANGELES, United States: A quarter of all
Biblical prophets are buried in Iraq. This
fascinating photo-feature in the Los Angeles
Times blog (17 August) on the tomb of prophet
Ezra (Uzair (peace be on him)) the Scribe in
Amarah reveals that since the mass departure of
the Jews, the site is now revered by Muslims.
Here on the plains of the Tigris River lies the
shrine of prophet Ezra (Uzair (peace be on him)).
Locals believe Ezra passed away while roaming
through the area with his donkey.
About Prophet Uzair (peace be on him), Quran
says:
(Or have you heard) of the one who, on passing
through an empty and ruined town, said, “When
will God bring it to life?” God caused him to die
and brought him back to life after a hundred
years and then asked him, “How long have you
been here?” He replied, “One day or part of a
day.” The Lord said, “No, you have been here for
one hundred years. Look at your food and drink.
They have not yet decayed. But look at your
donkey and its bones. To make your case
evidence (of the Truth) for the people, see how
we bring the bones together and cover them with
flesh.” When he learned the whole story, he said,
“Now I know that God has power over all
things.” (2:259)
Prophet Uzair (peace be on him) was sent to the
Bani Israel after Prophet Moses (Musa (peace be
on him)). Like all prophets, he was wise and
pious.
One day he decided to travel to far-off lands and
see the wonders of his lord. He packed some food
and water for the road, climbed on his donkey
and set off.
After riding for a long time, he came across an
empty village. When he stopped to have a look,
he saw bones of the people who had once lived
there, scattered all around!
We have been told that this village was
Jerusalem and its people were Jews.
They had committed great sins and Allah had
punished them by sending a tyrant king,
Nebuchadnezzar, over them. It was he who
destroyed the village and killed its people.
He looked at the broken bones for some time and
then found himself wondering, “How will Allah
bring these scattered bones together into bodies
on the Day of Qiyamah (Day of Judgment)…?”
As soon as the words came to his mind, Allah
caused him to die. When He brought him back to
life again, a hundred years had passed!
how long did you sleep?”
Prophet Uzair (peace be on him) replied, “I slept
for one day…” and then : thinking that was too
much, he added, “or maybe half a day.”
Allah told him, “You have slept for one hundred
years! Look at your food and your donkey.”
Uzair (peace be on him) looked around and saw
that his food was untouched. What a shock he
got when he searched for his donkey and only
found a pile of old bones!
He immediately realized that he had truly slept for
a long time. It was a miracle of Allah while his
donkey had become dust and bones, his food was
as fresh as the day he had slept!
Allah told Uzair (peace be on him) to look at the
bones and as he watched, his donkey started
coming back to life! The bones began join
together, then they were covered with flesh and
soon the donkey stood, alive and well, where he
had tied it!
Seeing this Uzair (peace be on him) cried out in
wonder, “Surely, Allah has Power over all things!”.
He returned home only to find that his own
children were now a hundred years older than
him! When he said he was ‘Uzair, no one believed
him, so he told them to bring the Tawrat (Old
Testament) and began reciting it by heart. The
people were amazed because they knew that only
Uzair had memorized the book and this finally
convinced them.
Uzair (peace be on him) became a sign of Allah’s
power. He was also proof that resurrection is a
true promise and will take place.
His shrine still exists in this predominantly Shiite
district of Amarah province. Bashir Zaalan is the
custodian of Ezra's shrine. Zaalan inherited the
job from his blind 100-year-old father, who
hobbles around on crutches. Iraq's once sizable
Jewish population, which thrived in Baghdad,
appointed him caretaker long ago. The capital is
268 miles away.
If the shrine was forgotten after the creation of
Israel in 1948, when most Jews left Iraq, Uzair
(peace be on him) has proudly embraced its
cultural heritage. Like other prophets in the Bible,
Ezra is a holy figure in Islam. And the wooden
shrine and blue mosaics in the domed building
are treated as sacred by visitors.
Visitors touch the wood out of reverence. People
visit the shrine to hold classes and deliver
sermons on Islam.
"Before, people had no idea who Ezra was!"
Zaalan said.
Zaalan guesses the brick building is 150 years old
and replaced a reed structure. Until now, Zaalan
says the shrine has received no funding from the
national government, but he plans on heading to
Baghdad to request money. Once Zaalan and his
father visited Baghdad's old Jewish community
and informed them they needed funds for
renovations. They were told a committee would
be sent down to inspect the building.
No one ever came, but in 2000 a contractor
showed up in the village and carried out some
repairs. "We don't know who paid for it," Zaalan
says.
Biblical prophets are buried in Iraq. This
fascinating photo-feature in the Los Angeles
Times blog (17 August) on the tomb of prophet
Ezra (Uzair (peace be on him)) the Scribe in
Amarah reveals that since the mass departure of
the Jews, the site is now revered by Muslims.
Here on the plains of the Tigris River lies the
shrine of prophet Ezra (Uzair (peace be on him)).
Locals believe Ezra passed away while roaming
through the area with his donkey.
About Prophet Uzair (peace be on him), Quran
says:
(Or have you heard) of the one who, on passing
through an empty and ruined town, said, “When
will God bring it to life?” God caused him to die
and brought him back to life after a hundred
years and then asked him, “How long have you
been here?” He replied, “One day or part of a
day.” The Lord said, “No, you have been here for
one hundred years. Look at your food and drink.
They have not yet decayed. But look at your
donkey and its bones. To make your case
evidence (of the Truth) for the people, see how
we bring the bones together and cover them with
flesh.” When he learned the whole story, he said,
“Now I know that God has power over all
things.” (2:259)
Prophet Uzair (peace be on him) was sent to the
Bani Israel after Prophet Moses (Musa (peace be
on him)). Like all prophets, he was wise and
pious.
One day he decided to travel to far-off lands and
see the wonders of his lord. He packed some food
and water for the road, climbed on his donkey
and set off.
After riding for a long time, he came across an
empty village. When he stopped to have a look,
he saw bones of the people who had once lived
there, scattered all around!
We have been told that this village was
Jerusalem and its people were Jews.
They had committed great sins and Allah had
punished them by sending a tyrant king,
Nebuchadnezzar, over them. It was he who
destroyed the village and killed its people.
He looked at the broken bones for some time and
then found himself wondering, “How will Allah
bring these scattered bones together into bodies
on the Day of Qiyamah (Day of Judgment)…?”
As soon as the words came to his mind, Allah
caused him to die. When He brought him back to
life again, a hundred years had passed!
how long did you sleep?”
Prophet Uzair (peace be on him) replied, “I slept
for one day…” and then : thinking that was too
much, he added, “or maybe half a day.”
Allah told him, “You have slept for one hundred
years! Look at your food and your donkey.”
Uzair (peace be on him) looked around and saw
that his food was untouched. What a shock he
got when he searched for his donkey and only
found a pile of old bones!
He immediately realized that he had truly slept for
a long time. It was a miracle of Allah while his
donkey had become dust and bones, his food was
as fresh as the day he had slept!
Allah told Uzair (peace be on him) to look at the
bones and as he watched, his donkey started
coming back to life! The bones began join
together, then they were covered with flesh and
soon the donkey stood, alive and well, where he
had tied it!
Seeing this Uzair (peace be on him) cried out in
wonder, “Surely, Allah has Power over all things!”.
He returned home only to find that his own
children were now a hundred years older than
him! When he said he was ‘Uzair, no one believed
him, so he told them to bring the Tawrat (Old
Testament) and began reciting it by heart. The
people were amazed because they knew that only
Uzair had memorized the book and this finally
convinced them.
Uzair (peace be on him) became a sign of Allah’s
power. He was also proof that resurrection is a
true promise and will take place.
His shrine still exists in this predominantly Shiite
district of Amarah province. Bashir Zaalan is the
custodian of Ezra's shrine. Zaalan inherited the
job from his blind 100-year-old father, who
hobbles around on crutches. Iraq's once sizable
Jewish population, which thrived in Baghdad,
appointed him caretaker long ago. The capital is
268 miles away.
If the shrine was forgotten after the creation of
Israel in 1948, when most Jews left Iraq, Uzair
(peace be on him) has proudly embraced its
cultural heritage. Like other prophets in the Bible,
Ezra is a holy figure in Islam. And the wooden
shrine and blue mosaics in the domed building
are treated as sacred by visitors.
Visitors touch the wood out of reverence. People
visit the shrine to hold classes and deliver
sermons on Islam.
"Before, people had no idea who Ezra was!"
Zaalan said.
Zaalan guesses the brick building is 150 years old
and replaced a reed structure. Until now, Zaalan
says the shrine has received no funding from the
national government, but he plans on heading to
Baghdad to request money. Once Zaalan and his
father visited Baghdad's old Jewish community
and informed them they needed funds for
renovations. They were told a committee would
be sent down to inspect the building.
No one ever came, but in 2000 a contractor
showed up in the village and carried out some
repairs. "We don't know who paid for it," Zaalan
says.
