Baghdād's Shûnȋzȋyyas in the History of Sufism

The term “Shûnȋzȋyya” is derived from Persian term “Shūnīz” (Nigella Sativa) that frequently mentioned throughout Sufi writings. According to the biographers, geographers, and historians, Shûnȋzȋyya is the name of five places in Baghdād: the cemetery, mosque, convent, district and the monastery of Shûnȋzȋyya. But the Shûnȋzȋyya cemetery and mosque are mentioned in Sufi writings more than others. Famous Sufis who had close ties with Shûnȋzȋyya mosque were buried in the Shûnȋzȋyya cemetery. In spite of the fact that the mosque was distinguished and characterized by Sufi congregations, and the cemetery was well known in the history of Sufism, but their history, geography, and situation in Sufism have not been examined so far. The present study focuses on so-called locations as Shûnȋzȋyya and particularly studied the situation and significance of Shûnȋzȋyya mosque and cemetery in the history of Sufism.