When the current building was constructed during the Safavid era, the underground chambers, tombs, and mihrabs that existed in the spaces of the Holy Alawi Courtyard were not removed. Among these tombs were those of the sultans of the Jalayirid dynasty. At that time, the courtyard level was lower than the surrounding lands, because over time the accumulation of soil and wind erosion had led to a rise in the ground level in this area.
Reconstruction during the Ottoman Era
During the reign of Ottoman Sultan Selim III (1203–1222 AH), an order was issued by the governor of Baghdad in 1206 AH, corresponding to 1791 CE, that these tombs be removed and the courtyard floor be paved with marble to facilitate movement for pilgrims. However, the Shiite authority Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahr al-Ulum opposed this action and ordered that these tombs remain in place. As a result, roofs were built between the tombs, and white stones extracted from the mines around Najaf were installed over them. The financial resources for this project were provided by Mir Khairullah al-Irani.
Reconstruction of the Floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard during the Era of Sultan Abdul Hamid II
On the first of Shawwal 1315 AH, corresponding to 1898 CE, by order of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the reconstruction of the floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard began. While removing the stones, old underground chambers and graves of some sultans and princes were revealed. This project was completed on the tenth of Jumada al-Thani 1316 AH, corresponding to 1898 CE. This reconstruction was recorded in historical sources by Allama Sayyid Ja’far Bahr al-Ulum.
Events during the Reconstruction of the Floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard
Shaikh Muhammad Husayn Harz al-Din writes about what he saw during the reconstruction of the floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard: “In the month of Rabi’ al-Thani 1316 AH, workers, according to the order of Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan, began digging up the courtyard floor in Najaf Ashraf so that the buried underground chambers could be repaired and reconstructed. In this process, respect for the dead was violated in an indescribable manner. This operation was carried out under the supervision of Ala al-Din Effendi, the representative of the Awqaf in Najaf.
As a result, large graves appeared in the northeastern quarter, connected to an underground chamber that extended to the mosque known as al-Masjid al-Khadra. Also, two large graves were found near the Kafshdari Qiran — a village on the Karbala–Najaf road — and beneath the courtyard floor, which were probably located in the land of the Najaf cemetery. These graves were built with exquisite blue tiles, resembling mosaic, with bright colors and beautiful designs. The walls surrounding these two graves were covered with carved tiles bearing motifs of flowers and trees, and beneath them was a very vast underground chamber built of transparent and precious white stone. The stairs of the underground chamber were also made of the same white stone.”
On the stone of one of the graves it is written: “The Supreme King Sultan Mu’izz al-Din Abd al-Wasi’ died on 3 Jumada al-Awwal 791 AH.”
On the stone of the second grave it is written: “11 Muharram, Wednesday, 831 AH,” but the name of the owner of the grave cannot be read.
Another grave appeared next to these graves, on which it was written:
“This is the grave of the deceased Shahzada Sultan Bayazid, taba tharaha (may her soil be pure and purified), Jumada al-Thani 803 AH.”
And another grave belonged to a child from the lineage of Sultan Shaikh Uways, who was probably the same person praised in the Divan of Khwaja Hafiz with this poem:
“Al-hamdu lillahi ‘ala ma’dilatihi al-Sultan Ahmad ibn Shaikh Uways Hasan Ilkhani; Praise be to God for the justice of Sultan Ahmad; son (or shaikh of the house) of Uways Hasan Ilkhani.”
The workers demolished these monuments by order of the Baghdad Awqaf Council, without observing the respect due to them — as Muslim and believing sultans. May God grant reward to the head of the shrine servants and their workers, for the command before and after this event belongs only to God.
Restorations and Development of the Holy Alawi Shrine
In 1370 AH, corresponding to 1951 CE, Nuri al-Said, Prime Minister of Iraq, visited Najaf and ordered the formation of a committee to supervise a series of reforms and reconstructions in the shrine of Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) and its courtyard.
This committee was formed under the chairmanship of the deputy governor of Najaf, Sayyid Diya Shikara, and the governor of al-Bada’ (the governor of Najaf city), Mr. Abd al-Fattah al-Amiri. Its members were: the shrine custodian, Sayyid Abbas Rafi’i; member of the Judicial Administration Council, Mr. Rashad Ujayna; head of Najaf Municipality, Haj Muhammad Sa’id Shamsa; and a group of other executive officials of Karbala and engineers of the General Awqaf.
Shaykh Ulum Kashif al-Ghita was also chosen as secretary of the committee. The necessary budget for this large project was provided from the general budget of the Iraqi government, and the operations proceeded under the supervision of specialized engineers and architects, including Haj Sa’id the Architect.
Among the measures carried out were repairing the floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard and covering its iwans with Iraqi marble. This operation was completed in 1371 AH, corresponding to 1952 CE.
Shaikh Muhammad Husayn Harz al-Din writes about this reconstruction:
“In 1370 AH, the floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard on the southern side was reconstructed, and the edges of the iwans were covered with white marble, within the framework of a development project for which the Iraqi government allocated 500 dinars.”
Reconstruction of the Floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard and Water Supply Facilities
In 1401 AH, corresponding to 1981 CE, the courtyard floor was covered with marble. Over time, due to age and poor construction quality, the marble cracked and crumbled, and depressions appeared in the ground, caused by the presence of underground chambers and empty spaces beneath the courtyard floor.
Therefore, the trusteeship of the Holy Alawi Shrine decided to repair the damage and reconstruct the courtyard floor with Greek Thassos white marble. This marble is of very high quality, and its special feature is that its temperature is 14 degrees Celsius lower than the ambient temperature, a feature fully compatible with the hot summer weather of the city and the conditions of the floor of the Holy Alawi Courtyard, where pilgrims must walk barefoot. The executive operations of this project began in Dhu al-Qa’dah 1438 AH, corresponding to 2017 CE.
Stage One:
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The old marble and the damaged concrete layer beneath it were removed.
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The old white stone layer of the courtyard floor was removed.
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The underground chambers and graves were restored according to Sharia regulations, and the necessary engineering measures were taken to protect them.
Next Stage:
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The well ring, 10 to 12 meters deep, which was used to drain the courtyard water, was repaired and reconstructed.
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The sewage path connected to these wells was cleaned and maintained.
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The old water pipes were removed, and a network of high-quality plastic pipes, 618 meters long, was installed in the newly built service tunnel inside the courtyard.
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Water supply points were also created at each iwan column to facilitate water supply to different parts of the courtyard.
Taken from the book “Tarikh al-Marqad al-Alawi al-Mutahhar” (History of the Purified Alawi Shrine).
