THE STORY OF KARBALA - PART 3/9

HUSAYN AT THE PLAIN OF KARBALA

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The founder of the Qachar dynasty of Iran, Agha Muhammad Khan, presented the gold covering for the dome and the minarets, about the end of the 12th century Hijra/18th century A.D.

Beginning in the second half of the 18th century, there ensued an armed struggle between the rising movement of Wahhabism and the Turkish Ottoman rulers. The caravans of the pilgrims proceeding towards Karbala, in the desert became an easy and frequent target for plunder, looting and massacre, for the Wahhabis, to make the Ottoman Turks uncomfortable. In Zilhijja of 1215 Hijra/April 1801 A.D., 12,000 Wahhabis under the command of Shaykh Saud, entered Karbala.

They looted the town, killed over 3,000 inhabitants (mostly women, children and older men) and made off with not only the personal belongings of the citizens and stocks in the shops, but the gold covering plates and other valuables from the shrine, which had been presented by various people over the centuries. The shrine was destroyed yet again. However, Muslims all over the world were disgusted at this act of wanton looting and massacre. Contributions poured in for rebuilding, not only from Muslim governments but from wealthy individuals too.

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