'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎124] (133/568)

124
RELIGIONS
of the Caliph Mo awlyeh at Medina, and above all Husein, the second
son of 'Ali, who with his followers was slain at Kerbela by the
troops of Yazid, Mo'awlyeh's successor, are venerated by the Shiahs
as martyrs and even as semi-divine. These persons, in the senti
ment if not in the theory of the Shiahs, almost take precedence of
the Prophet himself. Shiah religious feeling centres especially
round the story of Husein's death, which is commemorated on the
10th Moharrem, the first month, which in 1919 will begin on
September 26. The inspiration and semi-divine powers that belonged
to the true head of the Moslem world were continued in a series
of Imams or Mahdls, the last of whom is believed to have dis
appeared mysteriously either at Nejef or at Samarra in a.d . 873,
This Imam, or a reincarnation of Husein, is expected to return
some day to establish the true faith among men. Meanwhile the
Shiahs may give their adhesion to the constituted temporal autho
rities of the countries in which they live. The Sultan of Turkey
may be obeyed as Sultan, though not as Caliph.
The Shiah system of belief, which arose in Irak and spread to
Persia and India, has accumulated round it much mystical theology
and philosophy which are abhorrent to Sunnis as perverting or,
in their view, contradicting the revelation of the Koran. The
sects also differ in a number of points connected with ceremonial:
e. g._ whereas the Sunnis recognize meat slaughtered by Jews and
Christians as lawful, the Shiahs do not.
Shiah Shrines in Mesopotamia—The Shiah shrines of Mesopotamia
may be divided into three groups: (i) those connected with the death
of 'Ali, (ii) those connected with the battle of Kerbela, and (iii) those
connected with Imams later than Husein.
(i) Sacred places associated with the of Ali. —The spot where Ali
received his mortal wound is still shown at Kufeh, enclosed by iron
gratings, in the great mosque li mile from the present town. His
reputed tomb is at Nejef, though some authorities maintain that he
was buried where he fell, at Kufeh. The tomb rises in the centre
oi the town of Nejef, and surpasses in splendour even the shrine
of Husein at Kerbela. The town about it contains a population of
30,000, most of whom live on doles from pilgrims.
^ (ii) Scicvcd places connected with the haitlc Kevhelu. —The authenticity
of the shrines at Kerbela is not disputed. They are five in number
1. The tomb of Husein, called Dargah Hazrat Husein, stands in
the old town towards its western end. It consists of a large enclosure
[Sahri) with seven entrances, in the midst of which stands the
or sanctuary proper, surmounted by a lofty dome. The 72 martyrs
{Shuhada), who died with Husein, are buried in the same place.