Mosque in Kirkuk, Iraq
The Mosque of Prophet Daniel (Arabic: جامع النبي دانيال) (Turkish: Peygamber Daniel Camii) is a historic mosque of Kirkuk, Iraq. It is one of the mosques which are part of the Kirkuk Citadel territory.[1] The mosque contains a shrine, in which local tradition affirms that Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are buried in.[2] It is not only visited by Muslims, but Christians and Jews visit because of the graves of the Prophets, who are revered in all three religions.[3]
History
The original structure was a synagogue which was converted into a Christian church. Local tradition relates that the church was converted into a mosque during the reign of the Caliph Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz. The present building dates back to the start of the Timurid era and the end of the Ilkhanate.[4] The mosque was also renovated by the Ottomans.[5] A cemetery for Ottoman soldiers who died during World War II was also added at some point, but locals buried their dead in the cemetery at later times. This cemetery is regarded as the first cemetery in Kirkuk.
The mosque was formerly used for prayers, but this ended when the Kirkuk Citadel was called for demolition in 1997 to order the Turkmen to migrate. However, the visits to the mosque and its shrine did not stop.[6]
Architecture
The total area of the mosque is 400 square metres.[7] It has two blue domes and a single minaret. The minaret is made of brick and decorated with Qashani tiles, and it dates back to the Ottoman period.[8]
The shrine
The mosque is also revered by the Christians and Jews of Iraq, who visit it to pay their respects to the alleged graves of the four Prophets within the mosque, who are Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the latter three who are given the names Hunayn, Mishail and Uzair[9] which are essentially Arabized versions of their Hebrew names Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
There are only three graves present in the shrine of the mosque. The grave of Mishael is not present at all, and its location is not known within the mosque.[10] The signboard for the grave of Abednego/Azariah misidentifies him with the biblical Ezra, also known as Uzair in Islamic tradition.
State of the mosque
The mosque was reportedly neglected by local authorities.[11] Some parts of the mosque also collapsed.[12]
Gallery
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The mosque from behind
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Inside the mosque, with the three tombs present
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The tomb of Abednego/Azariah, name spelt here as 'Ozuir'
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The tomb of Shadrach/Hananiah
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The temporary residence for the caretaker of the site.
See also
References
