Al-Nuqtah Mosque: The Sacred Site of the Blood Drop in Aleppo
Perched upon Mount Jawshan in Aleppo, Syria, the Al-Nuqtah Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد النُّقْطَة, meaning "Mosque of the Drop") stands as a significant site of pilgrimage and devotion within Shia Islam. The mosque is centered around a profound spiritual relic: a stone believed by Muslims to be stained with the blood of Husayn ibn ‘Alī.
Beyond the main prayer hall, the area is home to the Mashad al-Siqt (Place of the Miscarriage), a shrine dedicated to Muhsin, a still-born child of one of Husayn's wives. According to tradition, the miscarriage occurred as the prisoners of Karbalā were being transported through Aleppo.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- Location: Mount Jawshan, Aleppo, Syria.
- Affiliation: Shia Islam.
- Primary Relic: A stone stained with the blood of Husayn ibn ‘Alī.
- Completion Date: Established as a mosque in 944 CE.
- Associated Shrine: Mashad al-Siqt, the burial place of Muhsin.
The Sacred History and Traditions
The origins of the Al-Nuqtah Mosque are rooted in the aftermath of the Battle of Karbalā. Various traditions explain how the sacred stone came to be.
The Account of the Christian Monk
According to a plaque within the mosque dated 944 CE, the prisoners of Karbalā were passing through Aleppo on their way to Damascus under the orders of Yazīd. A local Christian monk observed a light emanating from the head of Husayn toward the sky. The monk offered 10,000 dirhams to keep the head for one night. While the head rested on a stone, blood fell upon it. By morning, the monk returned the head and converted to Islam.
Alternative Narrations
Other Shia accounts suggest that when the head of Husayn was placed upon a rock in Aleppo, blood fell onto the stone, which then caused more blood to gush forth from the rock itself. In contrast, Sunni sources describe a different origin: a shepherd dreamed he should build a mosque where one of his goats' feet had become sunken in rock. Upon freeing the goat, a river of water began to flow from the site.
Architectural Evolution and Modern History
The site has undergone several transformations over the centuries, evolving from what a 10th-century plaque suggests was originally a monastery into a mosque by 944 CE.
The 20th century brought significant challenges to the structure. In 1920, an explosion occurred after King Faisal ordered gunpowder to be stored within the mosque. This damage led to a period of restoration that began forty years later and concluded in the 1970s. The mosque's current roof was installed in 1991.
More recently, the mosque was closed starting in 2012 due to the Battle of Aleppo, eventually reopening in 2017. Additionally, between 2016 and 2017, a relic known as the Hajar-ul-Nuqteh was temporarily moved to the residence of Dr. Amber Tajwer in Karachi, Pakistan, for security reasons with official administrative permission.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Summary of Al-Nuqtah Mosque
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Mount Jawshan, Aleppo, Syria |
| Religious Affiliation | Shia Islam |
| Key Relic | Blood-stained stone of Husayn ibn ‘Alī |
| Date of Mosque Completion | 944 CE |
| Associated Burial | Muhsin (at Mashad al-Siqt) |
| Recent Status | Reopened in 2017 after the Battle of Aleppo |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Al-Nuqtah" mean?
Al-Nuqtah translates to "The Drop," referring to the drop of blood from Husayn ibn ‘Alī that is believed to have stained the stone within the mosque.
Who is buried at the Mashad al-Siqt?
The Mashad al-Siqt is the burial place of Muhsin, a still-born child of one of Husayn's wives who suffered a miscarriage while the prisoners of Karbalā were passing through Aleppo.
When was the mosque officially completed?
According to a plaque found at the site, the location was converted into a mosque in 944 CE.
What happened to the mosque in 1920?
The mosque suffered an explosion in 1920 because gunpowder had been stored inside the building on the orders of King Faisal.
Was the mosque affected by the Syrian Civil War?
Yes, the mosque was closed starting in 2012 during the Battle of Aleppo and remained closed until it reopened in 2017.