Damascus, the capital city of Syria, is rich in history and offers several hidden gems and places to explore. A spiritual Landmark in Syria is Known as the Shrine of the Forty or Maqam Al-arba’in.
surely, It is a place where history, faith, and natural beauty converge.
also, offering visitors a unique opportunity when traveling to Syria to see and admire the view.
Firstly, this shrine holds deep spiritual significance for many Syrians and visitors from across the Muslim world.
It is located north of the city of Damascus on an Al-Arba’in mountain, which is an extension of Mount Qasioun towards the east.
One of the most famous and darker legends connected to this mountain is the story of the first crime in history.
The first crime is the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, as the Bible’s Book mentions, in addition, this story is also there in Islamic tradition in the Qur’an. Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve, the first humans created by God.
and the story goes that long ago, during the early days of human civilization. in brief, Abel was blinded by jealousy and killed his brother, thus, was overcome with guilt and fear.
Within the cave is an image of a mouth in the rock, said to have been formed when the cave cried out at the awful deed and the murder took place there. for that reason, The Syrians call it Maghārat al-Dam (the Cave of Blood). likewise, It was marking a dark chapter in the mountain’s history.
the location and the serene view of the shrine on Mount Qasioun add to the sense of peace and comfort experienced by those who visit.
For many, the Al-Arba’in Shrine is not just a historical site but a place of deep spiritual reflection and pilgrimage. hence, pilgrims visit the shrine seeking blessings, spiritual guidance, and a closer connection to the divine.
Also, it shows respect to forty holy men who, according to tradition, dedicated their lives to asceticism and engaging in continuous prayer and devotion to God in this far remote, and tranquil location.
The Shrine of Al-Arba’in is modest in its architectural design is simple, this simplicity enhances the spiritual atmosphere of the shrine, encouraging visitors to focus on their inner reflections rather than external distractions.
to illustrate, you can reach the shrine through 750 stairs. After that, you will find a small mosque. the mosque consists of two floors, in the lower floor are small rooms and an open space, but the most prominent thing on the lower floor is the blood cave.
The Al-Arba’in Shrine is more than just a religious site; it is an integral part of the cultural and spiritual fabric of Damascus make sure to visit it when traveling to Syria
lastly, No matter how many times we drive along the beauty of Syria, we think we’re always admire the iconic landmarks. indeed, book your trip now to experience Syria’s hidden gems
For more information about traveling and exploring Syria, please get in touch with us today! Alternatively, check out our extensive range of group Syria tours.
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Josh 2024-06-23 Lulu was our tour guide in Damascus in October 2022 and she was the best guide we could‘ve hopefully for! We had a tight schedule so we asked to see as much as possible, which she happily obliged to. She has a very interesting background, knowing every last bit of the city, its culture, history and food! She speaks multiple languages, including Japanese (!) and was just a fantastic guide to have. 10/10 would recommend. Samantha Echeverria 2024-06-23 An extraordinary and humbling experience. From start to finish the whole experience was an adventure, learning of the Syrians deep history gives a great insight to their collective strength and dedication to their culture. To walk the same footsteps as mentioned in the Bible and Quran is profound and indescribable. Overall I was incredibly humbled by my experience in Syria. Thank you again for the experience of a lifetime, and I look forward to coming back to Syria soon 🤲🏼 Per Sommer 2024-05-31 Jeg rejste tre dage sammen med Tambi i det nordlige Syrien. Det var en uforglemmelig oplevelse. Sammen besøgte vi Homes, Krak de Chevaliers, Maloula, Aleppo, Arward Island og Apamea. Ikke bare er Tambi blevet en god ven, men han har også en kæmpe viden om de steder, som vi besøgte. Et af højdepunkterne var også at være på besøg hos Tambi i hans lejlighed og møde hans kone. Her fik vi te, kager og en god snak om oplevelserne under den lange krige. Jeg kan kun give Tambi mine varmeste anbefalinger. Marco Arenas 2024-05-31 I was in Syria a few years ago doing a little tour with Ayoub and the experience was amazing, Ayoub and his team were marvelous guides all around the country, making the most of the trip. Their service is amazing. I highly recommend Ayoub because he is reliable and well-organized. I am looking forward to coming back to Syria! Junaidi 2024-05-21 I recently had the pleasure of exploring Syria with Tambee as our tour guide, and I can't recommend him highly enough. Tambee’s deep knowledge of Syria's rich history and culture brought every site we visited to life. His passion for the country was evident in the way he shared stories and historical insights, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. Tambee’s professionalism and attentiveness were remarkable. He ensured our group felt safe and comfortable at all times, handling all logistics seamlessly. His ability to navigate the complexities of travel in Syria, combined with his warm and friendly demeanor, made our journey both smooth and memorable. What I really love is his knowledge of Islamic History. The way he told me the History of Islam while we are standing on the historical site itself just gave me goosebumps. He can make the history comes to life. In summary, Tambee is an exceptional tour guide whose expertise and dedication significantly enhanced our Syrian adventure. If you're planning a trip to Syria, do yourself a favor and contact Tambee. You won't be disappointed! Joel Lara 2024-05-20 Everything on the tour was amazing. Whatever you need to feel comfortable, they will go out of their way to make sure you feel okay. Tambi was our tour guide and I honestly would not have switched anything about it. He is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever met. Someone that is really passionate about sharing the past, present and future of Syria. You need to book your trip to Syria as soon as possible. There is so much history to be seen in this country. Do yourself a favor and don’t listen to what western media would say about this country. Saying it’s all about terrorism and dangerous, that’s a HUGE lie, go see for yourself how kind and loving those people in Syria are. As for the war in Israel, it feels really safe in Syria. You going there gives people hope for a better future. Visa costs depend on nationality. As a US citizen my Visa was pretty costly 220$. It was WORTH IT! Cymbie Lumbao 2024-05-20 Syria was definitely on our list of country to visit. It exceeded our expectations! Syrians are the most hospitable and warmest people we have ever met. The history is amazing! Tambee is our tour guide and Tayseer is our driver. They are the best! Tambee is very passionate about his country and their history. We felt really safe and well taken care of. We would definitely visit again. We went in for a tour of Syria and came out with a lifelong Syrian friends! 🙏🏽🇸🇾 thank you for a wonderful experience! Shukran! Rahul Mudumba 2024-05-19 Tambee was fantastic, and made sure I had an incredible trip! Filippo Volpato 2024-05-18 Tambee was the most exquisite guide we could have ever wanted. Always attentive, extremely knowledgeable and open to adjust the itinerary based on your interests (expect surprises for you!). Hopefully we will be back to this beautiful country, that Tambee made us fall in love with. Michael Van Arragon 2024-05-18 Ask for Tambee! There is so much to learn about the history and future of our shared humanity in this important and beautiful country. I travelled 10 days across a large part of Syria and wish I could've stayed. Tambee who emphasizes the "intangible" is a talented and enthusiastic story teller with an amazing personal connection to the people and culture. He will help you come away with a big picture appreciation of everything youre seeing and with a specialist's attention to detail; help you deepen your own sense of what is happening today in the region. These are some seriously friendly people- a visit to Syria like this one is so special.
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Ayoub Al Smadi
Ayoub boasts over five years of tour guiding and tour operator expertise. he has a master’s degree in planning and managing sustainable tourism development, and his cheerful, vibrant personality makes every moment with him fly by unnoticed.
