The Tomb of Prophet Daniel (آرامگاه دانیال نبی), is the traditional burial place of the biblical prophet Daniel. Various locations have been named for the site, but the tomb in Susa, Iran (Persia), is the most widely accepted, it being first mentioned by Benjamin of Tudela, who visited Asia between 1160 and 1163.
The Book of Daniel mentions that Daniel lived in Babylon and may have visited the palace of Susa, Iran, but the place where he died is not specified; the tradition preserved among the Jews and Arabs is that he was buried in Susa. Today the Tomb of Daniel in Susa is a popular attraction among local Muslims and Iran's Jewish community alike. The earliest mention of Daniel's Tomb published in Europe is given by Benjamin of Tudela who visited Asia between 1160 and 1163.
circa 771 CE
According to Tabri, although not mentioned in Quran, Daniel (Daniyal) is considered by Muslims to have been a prophet. Reports of him being a prophet is from Jewish tradition, which bears his name and relates the episode of him spending time with Lions. Muslim traditions agree in stating that Daniel was buried at Susa (Zarih (grave) pictured here (peek inside), and a similar tradition was current among the Syriac writers. al-Baladhuri (ninth century) says that when the conqueror Abu Musa al-Ash'ari came to Susa in 638, he found the coffin of Daniel, which had been brought thither from Babylon in order to bring down rain during a period of drought. Abu Musa referred the matter to the calif Umar, who ordered the coffin to be buried, which was done by sinking it to the bottom of one of the streams nearby.
circa 771 CE
The main entrance (peek inside) to the tomb complex is richly adorned with glazed tiles and calligraphy of Quranic verses. The tomb presumed to be that of Daniel is located in the area, known as Shush-Daniel. However, a large portion of the current structure is actually a much later construction dated to the late nineteenth century, ca. 1871. Ibn Kathir also relates a tradition about people bringing out the bier of a pious man to pray for rain, during the reign of Khalifah Umar ibn al-Khattab, which was later buried in an un-marked grave.
circa 771 CE
During the Muslim conquest of Persia an Arab army invaded Khuzistan under the command of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari. After taking most of the smaller fortified towns the army captured Tustar in 642 before proceeding to besiege Susa. A place of military importance, it also held the tomb of the Christian prophet Daniel.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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