| Dhat Irq | |
|---|---|
 A highway leading to Dhat Irq | |
  Shown within Saudi Arabia Show map of Saudi Arabia Dhat Irq (Middle East) Show map of Middle East Dhat Irq (West and Central Asia) Show map of West and Central Asia | |
| General information | |
| Location | Mecca, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia |
| Coordinates | 21°55′47.87″N40°25′31.79″E / 21.9299639°N 40.4254972°E /21.9299639; 40.4254972 |
Dhat Irq (Arabic:ذَات عِرْق,romanized: Ḏāt ʿIrq) is amiqat and archaeological site inMecca Province, Saudi Arabia.
According to the travellerYaqut al-Hamawi, the name Dhāt 'Irq is derived from a similarly-named mountain located in theHijaz.
Dhat Irq is amiqat, a place where the pilgrims going on theHajj enter the state ofihram and subsequently wear the prescribed clothing for the event.[1][2] The miqat of Dhat Irq, however, is usually visited by the pilgrims who come fromIraq andKhorasan.[3] The place is also where caravans and tour groups on the destination for pilgrimage stop to rest and meet.[4] There is a large mosque at Dhat Irq for pilgrims to pray at, as well as additional facilities like hostels, toilets and a shopping centre. The site has also been classified as an archaeological site.[5]
In 599 BCE, theNeo-Babylonian ruler,Nebuchadnezzar II, invaded theArabian Peninsula and fought against the Arab tribes in the region.[6][7] The forces of Nebuchadnezzar II andAdnan, the ruler of Mecca at the time, clashed at Dhat Irq where a battle ensued. The subsequent victory was indecisive. According to the Islamic traditions, theBiblicalprophetJeremiah was involved in keeping the youngMa'ad ibn Adnan safe from harm.[8]
In November 624 CE, theSahabi and military commanderZayd ibn Harithah was sent on an expedition to Dhat Irq by theIslamic prophetMuhammad.[5][9][10] However, the prophet himself did not participate in the expedition, as was the custom for asariyya.
Dhat Irq held importance to theShi'ites after theirImam (Leader)Husayn ibn Ali had stayed there for a while to rest on his journey to the city ofKufa from his hometown. Husayn had a conversation with a local fromBanu Asad about the situation in Kufa and discussed the exegesis of the seventeenth chapter of theQuran, which isAl-Isra'.[11] The scholarTahir al-Samawi reports that Husayn had a meeting with the sons ofAbdullah ibn Ja'far and someUmayyad government officials in Dhat Irq.[12]
A foundation stone for a project to modernize Dhat Irq was laid in 2010 under the orders ofKhalid bin Faisal Al Saud, the governor ofMecca.[3] As of 2019, a mosque has been constructed at the site as well as pilgrim hostels and commercial centres, including shops and retail stores.[5]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Every year, from the eighth to the twelfth day ofDhu al-Hijjah. | ||
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