The unveiling of historical pieces from the golden iwan of the shrine of Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him)

The Kafeel Museum of Treasures and Manuscripts at the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine revealed a collection of historical pieces from the Golden Iwan of the shrine of Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) that were damaged during the Sha'ban Uprising in 1991.

This collection consists of three marble pieces that represent an architectural document, which were installed at the top of the Golden Iwan in the courtyard of the holy shrine, dating back to the era of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II.

The first piece of marble features colorful floral engravings, with the signature of Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan at its center, executed within a circle surrounded by an ornate relief resembling a sunbeam. This piece is considered a historical document that suffered significant damage during the Sha'ban Uprising, leading to its fragmentation into several parts.

The second and third pieces are two marble slabs that were fixed under the tughra in the Golden Iwan at the entrance to the holy sanctuary. Each slab bears inscriptions in Ottoman script executed in bas-relief style and includes a collection of poetic verses, likely written in praise of Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him), along with decorative floral engravings. These two pieces also suffered severe damage, including multiple fractures and the loss of parts of their original material during the same uprising.

The head of the department, Mr. Nafi' Al-Moussawi, said: "These historical monuments represent a dual memory; on one hand, they document an important phase in the history of the reconstruction of the holy shrines, and on the other hand, they embody the barbaric attacks on religious heritage during the Sha'ban Uprising."

He added: "The three pieces represent a comprehensive museum document that evokes a painful memory from modern Iraqi history, linked to the events of the Sha'ban Upraising that took place in the days of the month of Sha'ban, when the hands of destruction and oppression reached priceless religious and heritage landmarks, which are living witnesses that tell future generations the story of resilience in the face of injustice."