More than fifty Shia pilgrims prayed and prostrated near an ancient tomb in Ashkelon, Israel, for the third Imam of Shia Muslims. According to a report on February 9 by Reuters from Ashkelon, praise and worship in the Middle East is not unusual, but this shrine is located in the grounds of an Israeli hospital near the Gaza Strip and is known as a treatment center for victims of regional conflicts. At the Barzilai Medical Center in the port city of Ashkelon, there is a tomb that Shia Muslims believe is the burial place of the head of 'Hussein ibn Ali', the third Imam of Shia Muslims, who according to Shia narratives was killed in battle in the first century AH. Sheikh Moaz Tarmal, the leader of the pilgrims, told Reuters: 'We primarily pray in respect for the head of Imam Hussein because he was martyred. We believe that if we pray here, God will listen to us.' Many Shia Muslims believe that the body of Hussein ibn Ali is buried in Karbala, Iraq. However, some Shia believe that Sunnis hid his head in Ashkelon until the 10th century AD, after which the spirit of Imam Hussein ascended to his eternal resting place in Egypt to be safe before the onset of the Crusades and the attack of the Crusaders on Jerusalem. The Dawoodi Bohra sect of Shia Islam, with over a million followers worldwide, adheres to this theory. Followers of this sect gather annually for pilgrimage around this shrine located on a grassy hill in the Barzilai hospital grounds. Moshe Henanel, an Israeli researcher who helps organize public visits to Barzilai, told Reuters: 'Some of the Shia pilgrims who gather in this hospital travel from countries that do not recognize Israel.' He refrained from naming the countries due to political sensitivities, adding: 'The entry of pilgrims into Israel is pre-approved.' Dr. Ron Lobel, the deputy of Barzilai hospital, said: 'This is one of the strange issues of the Middle East. On one hand, one of the holy places for Shia Muslims is located here, and on the other hand, 12 kilometers to the south, there are other Muslims who are launching rockets at us.' He added that last year, during the Gaza war, Israel's anti-missile defense system known as the 'Iron Dome' identified and destroyed two Hamas rockets over Barzilai. The leader of the Shia pilgrims who came to the Israeli Barzilai hospital stated that 'divine fate' has kept this hospital safe. Sheikh Moaz Tarmal added: 'We believe this is a holy place, and many rockets have been fired at Ashkelon, but this place has always remained safe, and we believe this is divine fate.'
Prayer and Prostration for the Third Imam of Shia Muslims in a Hospital Area in Israel
Over fifty Shia pilgrims prayed at a site in Ashkelon, Israel, believed to be the burial place of Imam Hussein's head. This event highlights the complex religious and political dynamics in the region, especially given the hospital's proximity to Gaza and ongoing conflicts. The gathering underscores the intersection of faith and geopolitics in a historically contentious area.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Over fifty Shia pilgrims gathered to pray near a tomb in Ashkelon, Israel, believed to be the burial site of Imam Hussein's head. This event underscores the intersection of faith and geopolitics in a historically contentious area.
- The shrine is located on the grounds of Barzilai Medical Center, a treatment center for victims of regional conflicts.
- Some pilgrims travel from countries that do not recognize Israel, indicating complex political dynamics.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Imam Hussein is a central figure in Shia Islam, and his martyrdom is commemorated annually. The belief that his head is buried in Ashkelon reflects historical narratives that intertwine faith and regional history.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%