Mosque of Ali
Mazar-i-sharif, Afghanistan
After the steady browns and muted earth tones of rural Afghanistan, the vibrant blues, greens and yellows of their main mosques are a shocking relief. Prohibited by Islam from depicting pictures, they blast the eyeballl with titillating patterns in tile.
Share your story
Shareef writes:
This mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif was first built, many centuries ago, when a holy man in the small town had a dream in which Ali (the cousin of prophet Muhammad) came to him, saying that he was buried underneath the town. Soon the whole town began to have such dreams, and this mosque was built on the site to commemorate Ali. Since then, the small town has grown into the city of Mazar. On Now Ruz (New Year, the first day of spring) festivals are held at this mosque called the "Milli Gol-e Sorkh" (The Red Flower Festival), and the raising of a pole with colourful materials around it called the janda.
Wahida writes:
The story behind this his beautiful mosque is in Mazar-i-sharif is that when our Prophet Ali (peace be upon him) passed away his camel brought him here and he was burried at this mosque. Now Muslims go there to pray. Also Muslims who are blind or they have legs but can't walk or move, stay at this mosque for 40 days. They pray eat and spend their nights, and after 40 days a blind can see again and a person that cant walk can start to walk.
Yamah Saraj writes:
To enter the mosque you have to put off your shoes. Usually there is an old blind man at the entrance; you give him your shoes and once your are finished at the mosque he will give you your shoe back. He recognize you and your shoe. There is no system or computer or what so ever, only his amazing memory. I was astonished he remembered mine -- they say he never makes a mistake.