Shrine of Husayn's Head, Religious shrine in Ashkelon, Israel.
The Shrine of Husayn's Head is a religious shrine in Ashkelon, Israel, made up of multi-story structures arranged around a central courtyard. At its center stands a prayer room identified by a column and a green turban decoration.
The site dates to the Fatimid period and housed the head of Husayn ibn Ali between the 10th and 12th centuries. After that, the relic was moved to the Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, where it has remained ever since.
For Shia Muslims, this site is deeply tied to the memory of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and it drew pilgrims from across the region for centuries. The prayer room, marked by a column and a green turban ornament, reflects the style of devotion still practiced at similar shrines today.
The shrine sits within hospital grounds, so it is worth checking access conditions before you go. Once inside, the marble prayer platform in the central area is easy to find and open to visitors who wish to pray.
The original wooden pulpit that once stood here was later moved to the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, where it can still be seen today. It is considered one of the oldest surviving examples of medieval Islamic woodwork.
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