Al Masjid Al Azam bil Kufa - المسجد الأعظم بالكوفة

The heading in Arabic could be translated as - The Great masjid in Kufa. Yes one of the holiest shrines on shiite (followers of Ali Ibn Abi Talib) muslims is located in Kufa close to Najaf in Iraq.

This masjid hold a significant importance for the Shiite muslims, because it was the place where Ameer ul Mumineen (the commander of the faithfuls) was martyred on 19th of Ramadan. The masjid has been restored to its past glory after close to 1400 years of neglect. It is the fourth important masjid in Islam after Masjid ul Nabawi in Medina, Masjid ul Haraam in Mecca, and Masjid ul Aqsa in Jerusalem.

This was done by none other than The 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA. Here is a glimpse of how the masjid looked like before and after restoration:

Al Masjid Al Azam bil Kufa - Before Restoration (1915)

Al Masjid Al Azam bil Kufa - After Restoration

As mentioned earlier Kufa masjid was the place where Moulana Ali Ibn Abi Talib was martyred by Ibn Muljim (a kharajiite) on 19th of Ramadan. This happened when Ali AS was prostrating for the Fajr (early morning) prayer. And this happened in the Mehrab (the place where the custodian of the masjid prays).

In this Mehrab Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin saheb RA has placed this grand decorated Mudawwara (round shaped). In Kufi script its written "Fuzzto wa rabbil Kaaba" which means – “I swear to Allah (the lord of Kaaba) that I've won.” These were the last words of Moulana Ali AS after he was attacked. 

Some special features:

• The mosque has been decorated with gold and silver and precious stones such as diamonds, rubies and in every corner of the mosque one will find Ya Ali written.
• The Qibla in which maula Ali Ibn Abi Talib was martyrd has been made with a gold zari. It is composed of gold, silver, rubies, diamonds.
• The whole interior of the Mosque has verses of the Quran surrounded in gold in Arabic calligraphy.
• In the section of the qibla there are tear shaped engravings in marble, bordered with gold and rubies.
• The whole mosque has marbles and tiles which have been brought from Greece. These tiles are also found at Kabatullah in Mecca. The special feature of these tiles is that it is cool in bright sunlight and in summers, especially in places with a dry climate like in Iraq.
• Special Rugs have been brought from Iran which are used inside the mosque.