Jordan's Islamic shrines
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Amman- Islamic Tourism magazine, May/June 2004
Jordan is young country full of natural wonders – graced with sites, shrines and tombs of prophets and their companions from the earliest times.
The country has been blessed with a rich religious history. It is located between Mecca, the holiest place on earth for Muslims and Jerusalem, sacred to each of the three great monotheistic religions. Many early Abrahamic prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, Bible and Holy Quran are associated with Jordan; they lived there or at least traveled through it.
Prophet Mohammad compared Amman with heaven when he said:" My Pool ( in heaven ) stretches for the distance like that which is between Aden and Amman of Al-Balqa." To this day Al-Balqa remains one of the twelve governorates of Jordan. In addition, on his journey to Syria, he is said to have taken shelter underneath a tree, which, to this day, is located near Safawi in the Mafraq governorate. The tree is called Pistacia vera.
Starting from the Capital Amman, near the Roman Theatre downtown you can visit Al-Husseini Mosque. The Ottoman-style mosque was rebuilt on the remains of a mosque built in 640 A.D by the second Caliph Umar bin Al-Khattab. Do not miss the King Abdullah Mosque ( called The Blue Dome Mosque because of its sky blue exterior).
In Jubeiha, a suburb of Amman, you can visit the tomb of the venerable companion Abdul-Rahman bin Awf Al-Zugri, one of the " Blessed Ten" to whom Prophet Mohammad promised paradise. At the village of Bilal, in Wadi Seer, another suburb of Amman, you can see the tomb of Bilal bin Rabah, the Prophets's personal muezzin.
A popular attraction outside of Amman is the " Kahf Al-Raqim " or the Cave of the Seven Sleepers. Mentioned in the Holy Quran in a Sura named Al-Kahf, it is located 10 km east of Amman. The cave still has Byzantine and Roman ruins as well as a mosque, which exactly fits the descriptions in the Holy Quran. In Madaba the most famous mosaic, the Map of the Holy land, contains over two million pieces of coloured stones depicting the Holy Land and its surrounding regions.
A ten-minute drive from Madaba brings you to Mount Nebo, where God spoke directly to Moses. It is generally acknowledged that Moses was buried on Mount Nebo, although there is no actual tomb marking the spot. In need of water, Prophet Moses struck a rock with his staff and twelve springs emerged near Madaba, Named Uyun Musa, Moses Springs . Near by in Al-Shaqiq village you can visit the tomb of Abi-Thor Al-Ghafari.
Battle of Mutah
The most significant, fiercest battle fought during Prophet Mohammad's life time was the battle of Mutah, which claimed the lives of his closest companions, Zaid bin Haritha , Ja'far bin Abi Talib and Abdullah bin Ruwaha . They were fighting against a combined Byzantine/Ghssanid army. Prophet Mohammad's adopted son, Zaid bin Haritha led the Muslim army during the battle of Mutah. Zaid fought in a matchless spirit of bravery until he fell. The deputy commander of the army, the venerable companion Ja'far bin Abi Talib, cousin of Prophet Mohammad, took the banner after Zaid. He is often known as " the flying Ja'far" because he lost his hands during the battle and continued to hold the banner. Ja'far looked very much like the Prophet and shared many of his virtues. He was renowed for his kindness towards the needy and for narrating the Hadiths directly from the Prophet.
Ja'far was charged with leading a group of Muslims who migrated to Ethiopia. The non-believers sent a delegation headed by Amr bin al-As to bring the Muslims back to Mecca. A debate took place in the presence of the King of Ethiopia and Ja'far proved to be indomitable and unflinching in elaborating the Muslim viewpoint. When the King asked him about Prophet Mohammad's opinion of Jesus the son of Mary, Ja'far found himself in a delicate and embarrassing situation. He answered: " I will tell you what Prophet Mohammad says about Jesus based on the words of God, Jesus is the spirit and word of God who revealed it to Mary the Pious Virgin". Content with the reply, the King allowed the Muslims to stay.
In and around Kerak, you can visit Prophet Noah’s shrine , and the shrine of Prophet Solomon in Sarfah near Karak. He had great powers that included control over the winds and the Jinnis and understanding the language of birds and other animals. Also in Kerak is the shrine of Zaid bin Ali bin Al-Hussein. He was the great, great, grandson of Prophet Mohammad and a religious leader known for his righteous, majestic and knowledgeable ways. When describing Zaid , Al-Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq said: "Among us he was the best read in the Holy Quran, the most knowledgeable about religion, and the most caring towards family and relatives.
Near the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, you can visit the famous Lot's Cave. The Prophet Lot immigrated with his uncle, Prophet Abraham from Ur in Iraq. When visiting the cave you will notice its topography tallies exactly with Islamic and Biblical accounts.
In the Jordan Valley, you can visit the tomb of Abu Ubeida Amer bin Al-Jarrah , who is one of the blessed Ten, to whom the Prophet promised paradise. There is also the tomb of Mo'ath bin Jabal who the Prophet said was the most knowledgeable on what is allowed and prohibited in Islam. Today a modern building, with five domes, houses the tomb of Mo'ath.
Other tombs include Shurhabil bin Hasanah who was in command of the army assigned to the conquest of Jordan. Beside him lies Amir bin Abi Waqqas , the maternal cousin of the Prophet and the eleventh man to convert to Islam. A new building has been erected on vaults, within the village of Waqqas in the northern Jordan Valley.
In Deir ' Alla village there is the tomb of Derar Bin Al-Azwar , who took part in the conquest of greater Syria along with his distinguished sister Khawlah bint Al-Azwar.
In Salt the ancient town, with it's picturesque streets and dazzling houses with their characteristic long-arched windows, lies the shrine of Prophet Shu'ayb, the Midianite father-in-law of Prophet Moses. Within a mosque to the west of Salt, on a hill carrying his name, lies the shrine of Prophet Joshua. He was the apprentice of Prophet Moses and later his successor.
In a place called Khirbet Ayyoub the foundations of an ancient building mark the final resting place of Prophet Job whose legendary patience and faith gave him the strength to endure tremendous hardships.
A short journey northwest takes you through a pine forest and olive groves leading to the medieval town of Ajloun, with Ajloun castle, built by Usama bin Munqith the nephew of Saladin. It is a fine example of Arab and Islamic architecture. Not far from Ajloun is the tomb of Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl and the shrine of Al-Khadir whose famous story is cited in Holy Quran.
In Irbid city, on the banks of the Yarmouk river, Khalid bin Al-Walid led the Muslim army to victory in Yarmouk battle, which gave the Muslims control of Greater Syria. In Mazar Al-Shamali, near Irbid is a shrine for prophet David, and the tomb of Abul-Darda', who was always at the prophet's side.
Pella (Fahl in Arabic) is situated in the northern Jordan valley. It was the site of the famous Battle of Fahl, fought between the Byzantines and the Muslim army. Umm Qais, known in antiquity as Gadara, overlooks the Sea of Galilee and the Golan heights. Jesus Christ performed his famous Miracle of the Gadarean Swine here. Gerasa is the Greco-Roman city - the largest and best-preserved Roman city outside Italy. Nearby you can visit the shrine of Prophet Hud inside a modern mosque.
In the Jordan Desert you can visit many palaces built by the Umayyads who left a number of magnificent architectural legacies including the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Great mosque in Damascus.
In the south, Jordan's greatest treasure is the unique Nabataean city of Petra, the Red Rose City, a UNESCO world heritage. On the top of Jabal Al-Nabi Harun near Petra is the shrine of prophet Aaron, the brother of Moses. God responded favourably to the supplication of Moses to make Aaron his minister. His shrine corresponds exactly with the traditional Islamic and Biblical accounts of Aaron's burial.
In Tafilah city is the tomb of Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari , and the shrine of Adam's third son, Prophet Seeth, credited with inventing arts and crafts. Al-Harith bin Umayr Al-Azdi , and Ka'b bin Umayr Al-Ghifari are also buried there. Midway between Hijaz and Syria lies Jabal Al-Tahkim, where Abu Musa Al-Ashari met Amr bin Al-as after the battle of Siffin.
In the south of Jordan lies Aqaba. Along with its clear water, abundant marine life and pleasant climate, you can enjoy a visi to Uthman Mosque at Ayla built during the regin of Caliphate of Uthman bin Affan. The Mamluke Fort and castle of Salahuddin. is nearby.
Ending your visit to Jordan, do not forget to visit Wadi Rum one of the most magnificent desert landscapes in the world. You can drive through it, see it from a hot air balloon or a camel caravan.
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Amman Office / Agents
Mr. Motaz Othman
P.O. Box 841113 Amman 111180
Amman – Jordan
Mobile : +962 785 557 778,
Tel: +962 6 4618615, Fax:+962 6 4618613, E-mail: itmamman@tcph.org |
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