| Imam Qasim Shrine | |
|---|---|
Arabic: مرقد الإمام القاسم
| |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Twelver Shi'ite |
| Region | Mesopotamia |
| Ownership | Shiite Endowment Office |
| Location | |
| Location | Al-Qasim |
| Country | Iraq |
  Location in Iraq | |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°17′51″N 44°41′04″E / 32.2975231°N 44.6843127°E / 32.2975231; 44.6843127 |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Persian architecture |
| Date established | 10th century |
The Imam Qasim Shrine (Arabic: مرقد الإمام القاسم) also known as the Shrine of al-Qasim is a mosque and shrine containing the mausoleum of al-Qasim, one of the sons of Musa al-Kadhim the seventh Imam of the Twelver Shi'ite religion.
The mosque and shrine complex is the burial place of al-Qasim ibn Musa al-Kadhim, who is buried in the room topped by the golden dome.[1][2] He was very deeply beloved to his father, Musa al-Kadhim who included his son in his will and testament. Musa al-Kadhim is known to have said, regarding the affairs of his son:[1][2]
If the matter were up to me, I would have made it [the will] to my son al-Qasim, because of my love for him and my compassion for him. But that is up to Allah Ta'ala, for He makes it where He wills.
al-Qasim is narrated to have been born in 767 CE and died between 807 and 808 CE with an estimated age of 40–41 years at death.[1][2] The Shi'ite scholar Ibn Tawus emphasized the importance of visiting the grave of al-Qasim, saying:[3]
If you want to visit one of them, such as al-Qasim ibn [Musa] al-Kadhim, al-Abbas ibn Ali, or Ali ibn al-Husayn, who was killed in al-Taif, and whoever is similar to them, you will stand at the One whom you want to visit.
The original mausoleum was established by the Buyids in the 10th-century, in years later on the Ilkhanate and the Jalayirid Sultanate would renovate and expand the structure between the 14th to 15th centuries.[4] The current mausoleum dates back to the reign of the Safavid Empire when Shah Ismail ordered the placement of a wooden cenotaph over the grave of al-Qasim in 1871.[4][2][1] The present day mosque and outer structure, however, date back to the 20th century; a large number of repairs were done to the shrine in 1907; in 1950 the glided dome was implemented; between 1951 and 1952 the courtyard was built.[4][2][1] Construction was finalized between 1996 and 1997 with the efforts of the local population.[4][2][1]
