The Mausoleum of Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, also known as the Dargah of Qutbul Akbar Imam Shadhili () is an

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

and

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type o ...

(''

dargah A Sufi shrine or dargah ( ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargāh'' दरगाह درگاہ, ''dôrgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervi ...

'') complex located in

Humaithara Abu Al Hassan El-Shazly or Sheikh Shazly as called now or the original name Humaithara ( ', also spelled "Humaisara," "Al Maithara") or Sheikh Shazily (Arabic. الشيخ الشاذلى) (as it is called in Egypt now) is an isolated town in the Eg ...

Red Sea Governorate The Red Sea Governorate ( ) is one of the 27 governorates of Egypt. Located between the Nile and the Red Sea in the southeast of the country, its southern border forms part of Egypt's border with Sudan. Its capital and largest city is Hurgha ...

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

. The complex is dedicated to

Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili () (full name: Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār al-Ḥasanī wal-Ḥusaynī al-Shādhilī) also known as Sheikh al-Shadhili (593–656 Hijri year, AH) (1196–1258 Anno Domini, AD) was an influ ...

(died 1258), the founder of the

Shadhili The Shadhili Order () is a tariqah or Sufi order. The Shadhili order was founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili in the 13th century and is followed by millions of people around the world. Many followers (Arabic ''murids'', "seekers") of the Shadhil ...

Sufi order A ''tariqa'' () is a religious order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking , which translates as "ultimate truth". A tariqa has a (guide) who plays the r ...

History

The religious complex was built in Humaithara. After the death of Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, the area was renamed Sheikh Shazly due to the presence of his grave there. The mausoleum was expanded after the late 13th century to accommodate the large numbers of pilgrims visiting the tomb. In the 21st century, the Ministry of Endowments established a mosque and connected it to the entrance to the mausoleum. Sanitation facilities were attached to the mosque building as well.https://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/3476306.aspx A madrasah for memorizing the

Qur'an The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...

was also established, as well as a temporary housing for the Sheikh of the mosque and the madrasah's teacher.

The well of Humaithara

Outside the religious complex, there is a well, which local traditions relate that some water gargled by Al-Shadhili himself was poured into it on a day prior to his death. The water of this well is generally safe for consumption, and it is also a source of fresh water for the surrounding villages.

References

{{Mausoleums in Egypt 21st-century mosques in Egypt Buildings and structures in Red Sea Governorate Mausoleums in Egypt Mosque buildings with domes in Egypt Mosque buildings with minarets in Egypt Shadhili order Sufi mosques in Egypt Sufi shrines in Egypt

History

The well of Humaithara

See also

References