Baghdad Burning: Things are not good in Baghdad ... People are scared

[RedEarth]

Tensions...

Things are not good in Baghdad.

There was an explosion this morning in a mosque in Samarra, a largely Sunni town. While the mosque is sacred to both Sunnis and Shia, it is considered one of the most important Shia visiting places in Iraq. Samarra is considered a sacred city by many Muslims and historians because it was made the capital of the Abassid Empire, after Baghdad, by the Abassid Caliph Al-Mu’tasim.

The name “Samarra” is actually derived from the phrase in Arabic “Sarre men ra’a” which translates to “A joy for all who see”. This is what the city was named by Al-Mu’tasim when he laid the plans for a city that was to compete with the greatest cities of the time- it was to be a joy for all who saw it. It remained the capital of the Abassid Empire for nearly sixty years and even after the capital was Baghdad once again, Samarra flourished under the care of various Caliphs.

The mosque damaged with explosives today is the “Askari Mosque” which is important because it is believed to be the burial place of two of the 12 Shia Imams- Ali Al-Hadi and Hassan Al-Askari (father and son) who lived and died in Samarra. The site of the mosque is believed to be where Ali Al-Hadi and Hassan Al-Askari lived and were buried. Many Shia believe Al-Mahdi ‘al muntadhar’ will also be resurrected or will reappear from this mosque.

I remember visiting the mosque several years ago- before the war. We visited Samarra to have a look at the famous “Malwiya” tower and someone suggested we also visit the Askari mosque. I was reluctant as I wasn’t dressed properly at the time- jeans and a t-shirt are not considered mosque garb. We stopped by a small shop in the city and purchased a few inexpensive black abbayas for us women and drove to the mosque.




http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2006_02_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#114064838240253479

[catmother]

1. i am appalled that someone or some group would do something

like this to a sacred place.:cry:

[RufusEarl]

2. Well that someone or some group, would be the Bu$h administration.

[catmother]

4. i'm not a religious person but it is sacrilege to destroy anything

that is considered holy by any religion. it's just plain wrong.:eyes:

[sendero]

6. I agree...

... and it is testament to the depth of the hostility that these various "sects" feel toward each other. Being Muslims themselves, they have to know how this will be received.

I think the civil war has begun in earnest. God help everyone in Iraq.

[BeFree]

8. Indeed

These Mosques survived for centuries, before * invaded their land.

[malaise]

3. Truly a sad day

Iraq was such a beautiful place with so much of mankind's history. I hate so many people on this planet.

[enough]

5. What have we wrought?

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Where are all the US Troops?

Anyone notice that there isn't a US soldier anywhere in sight today?

BushCo doesn't seem to want to understand that the US is the occupying power in Iraq and it our duty to maintain law and order. Instead, the troops hide on their bases and won't lift a finger to stop the Iraqis from killing each other. Instead, Negroponte's goons are probably on the loose trying to stir things up.