The Al-Askari Mosque of Samarra – Iraq
The Al-Askari Shrine was built in 944 and is one of the most important Shī‘ah shrines in the world. The Al-Askari Mosque is next to the shrine. The shrine is one of the holiest sites and the remains of the 10th and 11th Shī‘ah Imāms rest at the shrine. Both of them are considered to be descendants of the Prophet Muhammad and the Shī‘ah consider them to be among his successors. Other important religious figures are buried at the site and it remains a very important part of Shī‘ah history. The shrine is also the location of the disappearance of the 12th Imām whom the Shī‘ah believe will one day return and restore justice to humanity.
Nasir as-Din Shah Qajar remodeled the shrine in 1868 and the golden dome was added 1905. The dome was covered in 72,000 gold pieces. The golden dome and light blue tiled shrine was one of the most prominent and loved features of the Samarra skyline.
In 2006, the skyline was changed when a bombing destroyed the golden dome on the top of the ancient shrine. Several men dressed in Iraqi Special Forces uniforms entered the mosque and set two bombs. No one was injured in the initial blast of the explosion, however retaliatory violence followed. Over the next few days more than 1,000 people lost their lives in the ensuing violence. In 2007, al-Qaeda operatives destroyed the two golden minarets that flanked the ruined dome.
By late 2007, plans were already underway to restore the shrine and mosque. The dome and minarets were both rebuilt and restored as best as possible and it was finally reopened in April 2009. The dome was recovered with gold by September 2009.