Funerary mosque

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A burial mosque is a special type of memorial mosque that is connected to a mausoleum . The Arabic name for the tomb is qubba , a word that is used for the tent, but later on the dome that usually covered the tombs, and so it became the name for the sanctuary in general. The custom of using a dome for the graves of saints comes from the Byzantine culture, where grave churches always required a dome. The main name of the tomb shrine is mashhad (see also Mashhad ); which designates places where saints are venerated, especially those of the Prophet's family and comrades, but also those of recognized saints.

Graves of ancestors and saints have been shrines from ancient times, and this tradition was gradually adopted by Islam for the saints that Islam itself created. For example, while memorial mosques were associated with memories of where the Prophet Mohammed prayed, funerary mosques concentrated on and around the graves of the founders and martyrs of Islam. However, no clear line can be drawn between memorial mosques and grave mosques.

Reports that the Prophet Mohammed regularly visited and greeted the graves of the martyrs who fell at Uhud provide evidence that cults existed at these graves .

In addition to the many newly created holy places, there were pre-Islamic shrines that were Islamized. These include above all grave shrines of biblical personalities. Occasionally, however, there are also shrines of saints who superficially belong to Islam but are actually rooted in popular belief .

Important funerary mosques

literature

  • AJ Wensinck and JH Kramers: Handwortbuch des Islam , EJ Brill, Leiden, 1941, p. 426ff.