Residents of Tikrit anticipate restoration of historic shrine destroyed by ISIS

SALAH AL-DIN — Residents of Tikrit are eagerly anticipating the resumption of restoration work on the historic Mazar Al-Arba’een, a revered site housing the tombs of 40 companions of the Prophet Muhammad, after it was destroyed by ISIS.

The shrine, significant for its religious and cultural heritage, includes the tombs of Umar ibn Jundub Al-Ghifari, a companion of Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the second caliph in Islam, and Lady Nafisa, known for cooking for warriors and tending to the wounded during the Battle of Tikrit in 637 AD.

The shrine holds deep significance for Tikrit residents, tied to childhood memories and beliefs in its spiritual power. Many visit the site to pray for healing, fertility, or even rain during droughts. The restoration project includes rebuilding the mosque, erecting domes, installing a protective barrier around the graves, developing gardens, and constructing a modern fountain in the courtyard, all while preserving the site’s symbolic essence.

According to a project official, work halted after 60% completion due to objections from the Directorate of Antiquities about covering certain historical elements. Discussions between the Sunni Endowment, the Antiquities Directorate, and the construction company are ongoing to resume work.

“Mazar Al-Arba’een is home to 40 martyrs of the Battle of Tikrit, including the esteemed companion Umar ibn Jundub Al-Ghifari and Lady Nafisa, who cared for the wounded and prepared meals for the fighters,” Younis Rahi, a caretaker of the shrine, told 964media. “It also houses the shrine of Al-Khidr. In the past, people visited on Mondays and Thursdays and during religious holidays.”

Rahi added that locals have long believed in the shrine’s blessings. “People bring the sick to pray here and see improvement. During droughts, they come to seek rain, taking soil from the graves for bathing in hope of bearing children.”

Visitors fulfill vows at the shrine by lighting candles, applying henna, and offering sacrifices, Rahi explained.

Kaiser Mawlood Ibrahim, a Tikrit resident, reflected on the shrine’s importance: “This place is not just religious but also social. During Eid and Ramadan, visits to the shrine increase. I remember walking here with friends as a child, feeling joy and a profound spiritual connection upon arriving.”

The Mazar Al-Arba’een was among the historical sites destroyed by ISIS during their control of Tikrit in 2014, a devastating blow that deeply shocked the city’s residents due to the shrine’s profound symbolic significance.

ISIS’s destruction of the shrine left deep scars on the community. “We were heartbroken when it was bombed. Tears would flow when we spoke of it,” Ibrahim said. “Now, as its features return, so do some of the memories, bringing happiness to the city. However, we hope for more attention from authorities and efforts to educate young people about its cultural significance, not just its religious value.”

Between June 2014 and August 2017, ISIS orchestrated widespread destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage, targeting historic sites, religious shrines, and artifacts of immense cultural and historical importance. According to a 32-page report by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by ISIL, these actions amounted to “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Among the many sites devastated during their occupation of Tikrit in 2014 was the Mazar Al-Arba’een, a shrine of profound religious and cultural importance to the local community.