The Illuminated Souls of Sham: Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani
A guide to Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani, the great hadith master of Damascus, his life in the city, and his resting place at Bab…
The Journal
Deepen Your Connection to Sacred History
Explore the stories, architecture and scholarly legacies of Syria. Written to help you experience every sanctuary with clarity and reverence.
The Illuminated Souls of Sham: Shaykh Shukri al-Luhafi
A guide to Shaykh Shukri al-Luhafi of Damascus, the master calligrapher and Shadhili guide who served water at gatherings of dhikr, and where he…
Umayyad Mosque, Damascus: History, Architecture and Spiritual Significance
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, among the oldest still standing anywhere. Its history, architecture, the shrine of Prophet Yahya (AS) and how to visit.
Maqam of Ibn Arabi, Damascus: The Tomb of the Greatest Master of Sufism
The tomb and mosque of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi in the Salihiyah district of Damascus, built by Sultan Selim I. His life, his teachings and…
Old Damascus and Souk al-Hamidiyah: A First-Time Visitor’s Guide to the Old City
A guide to the UNESCO-listed Old City of Damascus, Souk al-Hamidiyah and Straight Street, with the walk from the gates to the Umayyad Mosque.
Jabal Qasioun and the Cave of Blood, Damascus: Legend, Faith and the View Over the City
Mount Qasioun overlooks Damascus and holds the Cave of Blood, tied by local tradition to the story of Adam's sons. What is Qur'anic and…
The Minaret of Isa in Damascus: Where Muslims Believe Prophet Isa (AS) Will Descend
What has been reported about the descent of Prophet Isa (AS) at a white minaret east of Damascus, and how the Umayyad Mosque's minaret…
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery, Damascus: Companions and the Ahlul Bayt in the Old City
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery in Damascus holds companions of the Prophet ﷺ and members of his household. Who rests there, and what it is like…
Tomb of Salahuddin al-Ayyubi (Saladin), Damascus: History and the Two Sarcophagi
The mausoleum of Salahuddin al-Ayyubi sits beside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Its history, its two sarcophagi and the sultan who took Jerusalem back.