Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi


The Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi, or the Mosque and the Tomb of the Sheikh Umar Suhrawardi, is a historic complex of a mausoleum and a mosque, located in Baghdad, Iraq. The complex dates back to the Abbasid era and is dedicated to Shahab al-Din Abu Hafs Umar Suhrawardi, the founder of Suhrawardiyya Sufi Order. The mosque is located between the Sheikh Umar Street and Bab al-Wastani of the Baghdad wall, in the southern part of Al-Rusafa. The mosque can be overlooked from the Muhammad al-Qasim Highway and approximately away from the city center.

Construction

The construction of the mosque dates back to the 12th century, and the mosque was named after Umar Suhrawardi who was buried in the nearby cemetery. The mosque was renovated by the Ismail Pasha in 1902 and in 1926. Another renovation was conducted in 1964 by the ministry of endowment. In 2010, it was reported that the conical tower is in danger of collapsing.

Facilities

Inside the mosque, there is a musholla of approximately and a marble-coated dome based on the ten pillars in addition to the thick wall surrounding them. Inside the musholla, there is a door leading to the tomb of Umar Suhrawardi, which is situated next to the shrine claimed to be that of the 34th Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim. The tomb chamber is a small room and the grave of Umar Suhrawardi is covered with a wooden Zarih. In a separate room, one of Umar Suhrawardi's students is buried. On top of the shrine, there is a unique conical dome built in Seljuq architectural style. Inside the mosque, there is a musholla for summer time surrounding the old cemetery, and a place for five daily prayers which can accommodate up to 400 worshipers. The surrounding cemetery was originally called Al-Wardiyya Cemetery, but it was renamed to Sheikh Umar Cemetery after the burial of Umar Suhrawardi there.

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