Pilgrims seeking miracles flock to ancient shrines
Many archaeological sites in Iraq are turning into holy shrines, as Iraqis report the occurrence of miracles and other holy acts.
BAGHDAD — The shrine of the famous Arab poet Abu Tayyib al-Mutanabbi (A.D. 915-965) in the Wasit governorate, southeast of Baghdad, has risen from a state of neglect and become a “holy place,” where miracles occur, according to visitors to the shrine that Al-Monitor spoke with Nov. 27.
“I pray at the shrine, and I pray for miracles and to earn a good living, as I heard from citizens who confirmed the miracles performed at this holy site,” said Saad al-Sultani, a farmer in the Numaniyah district in Wasit.
Sultani’s view aligns with media reports documenting the miracles said to have taken place at the shrine. Some Iraqis even say that the shrine's door was stolen, but that the thieves returned it a few months later after they felt an omnipresent, lurking danger.
Iraqis are also sharing stories about how the waters of the Tigris River once encircled the shrine, which is located on the river's bank. “About three decades ago, we used to gather around the shrine, which prompted a flood tide around it. This is when we used to recite the Quran,” Sultani said. To many, the water that encircled the shrine indicates that this is indeed a holy place.
