Maqam Rabaa Al Adawyah

On  the Mount  of  Olives, in  the At-Tur  neighborhood,  overlooking the Old  City  of Jerusalem, is the tomb of one of the most prominent figures in the history of Sufi Islam,  Rabia  Al-Adawiyya.  Sufi  Islam  is  also  referred  to  as  Islamic  mysticism  and promotes a personal connection with the God through prayer, contemplation, chants, song, and dance, as well as the belief in forging a relationship with God that is born out of love for the divine and not fear.  The tomb is located below a mosque that is part of the compound that also contains the Chapel of the Ascension. Rabia  al-Adawiyya,  also  known  as  Rabia  of  Basra,  was  a  great  proponent  of  the principles  of  Sufi  Islam  and  was  revered  for  the  way  that  she  embodied  those principles during her lifetime. She is still very well known today for poetry. Born in around 717CE near Basra which is part of present-day Iraq, Rabia was the fourth daughter of a poor, but pious and well-respected family. According to legend, the Prophet Mohammad appeared to her father in a vision, telling him that Rabia would be a favorite of God and lead many people in the ways of Islam. After her father’s death, Rabia was sold into slavery. She would spend her nights in prayer and upon seeing her devotion to God, her master allowed her to leave and continue her worship in solitude, leading an ascetic life. Her renown grew and she attracted many disciples. She never married, although she had many proposals, which was very uncommon at that time, because she had committed her life completely to God. Access to the tomb is from within the complex that houses the Chapel of the Ascencion. The  entrance  to  the  Tomb,  sometimes  called  the  maqam  or  zawiya,  of  Rabia  al- Adawiyya  is  down  a  small  staircase  leading  under  the  Mosque  on  the  site.  Upon entering the burial cave, the tomb is found within a small domed chamber. It is draped in green cloth bearing inscriptions in Arabic. While the tomb is a very important site in Islam and is widely regarded as being that of the Sufi mystic Rabia al-Adawiyya, the location is also significant for both Christians and Jews. Christians believe the tomb to be that of the 5th century Saint Pelagia of Antioch and Jews believe it to be the 7th century BCE prophetess Huldah. Despite these differences of opinion, a visit to the Tomb of Rabia al-Adawiyya is an essential part of any visit to the Mount of Olives and the Chapel of the Ascencion compound.