Tbilisi

Tbilisi (Georgian: თბილისი, Arabic: تفليس) is the capital and the biggest city of Georgia. There is narration from Imam al-Sadiq (a) in which he mentioned the name of Tbilisi along with Kufa and Qom. This city has Shi'ite centers and mosques. A branch of Al al-Bayt institute is built in Tbilisi as well. The Grand Mosque of Tbilisi has two mihrabs (the prayer niche), one for Shi'ites and the other for Sunni Muslims which is a symbol of unity of Muslims. Contents • 1 General Information • 2 Islam • 3 History of Shi'ism • 4 Shi'ite Centers o 4.1 The Grand Mosque of Tbilisi • 5 References

General Information

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and it is regarded as the bride of Caucasus. The area of this city covers 350 km2 and its population is estimated 1/152/000 in 2010. Tbilisi is a political, cultural, and economic city in Caucasus. This city is located in the cultural and economic intersection of Iran and the west. Mirza Fatali Akhundov was born and was buried in Tbilisi. In the time of Iranian Constitutional Revolution, a large number of books and journals were published in this city and then transferred to Iran. Also Iranians who wanted to travel to the west, passed through Tbilisi, therefore in their travel accounts, like Nasir al-Din Shah, they mentioned the name of Tbilisi.

Islam

In the time of 'Uthman b. 'Affan Muslims attacked Caucasus and they managed to conquer the eastern regions of Georgia. They conquered Tbilisi in the 1st/7th century and they erected the Emirate of Tbilisi in Tbilisi in the next century. The first mosque of Tbilisi was built in the 10th/16th century. In 928/1522 on the right side of Kura River where a church was destroyed, a mosque for Shi'ite Muslims was built, and it was later destroyed in 1958 by Communist Soviet Union. Ottomans were ruling over Tbilisi for a short time (1135/1723 - 1147/1734-35) and they built a Sunni mosque which was destroyed after some years by the order of Nader Shah. However it was later rebuilt in 1846-1851. In the last years of 19th century, this mosque was destroyed and a mosque was built in that place which became famous as the Grand Mosque of Tbilisi.

History of Shi'ism

Mourning of Muharram in Georgia Based on some historical sources, Qays b. Sa'd b. 'Ubada, a commander and representative of Imam Ali (a), escaped to Tbilisi in 58/678 as he feared Mu'awiya hurt him; he passed away in Tbilisi later. Some other sources stated that Qays passed away in 60/680 in the last years of Mu'awiya's rule. In a narration from Imam al-Sadiq (a), Tbilisi is mentioned along with Kufa and Qom.

Shi'ite Centers

Al al-Bayt Institute's branch in Tbilisi was built in 2001 by Ayatollah Sistani's office. It is regarded as the biggest religious base in Georgia and its library is largest Shi'ite library in the country. This institute provide health care services and supports mosques and husayniyyas. It sends religious preachers to other regions and publish religious books and journals.

The Grand Mosque of Tbilisi

The Grand Mosque of Tbilisi has two mihrabs (the prayer niche) for Shi'ites and Sunni Muslims. Different hadiths are written on its walls including Hadith al-Thaqalayn and Hadith Madinat al-'Ilm. This mosque is a symbol of unity of Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.