The Mausoleum of Khodja Doniyor (Prophet Daniel)

Uzbekistan tourism information >> Samarkand

The Mausoleum of Khodja Doniyor (Prophet Daniel).

The prophet Daniel is respected by three religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The mausoleum itself was built in 1900. But before mausoleum was built, there was the grave and the mosque built in Tamerlane's time. The mausoleum is said to contain the arm of Prophet Daniel. As if this relic was brought to Samarkand by Tamerlane the Great from Mecca. The length of the tomb is about 18 meters. It is far larger than is necessary for a simple arm bone. This phenomena is explained by two ways. One version states that the arm bone miraculously grows larger with each passing year. Another story narrates that the prophet simply was a giant and the tomb's length points out to his true stature.

It's interesting that the other location alleged to be Daniel's tomb is the mosque of Dzoul Karnein in Alexandria. It is said to contain the remains of the scholar and venerated teacher Prophet Daniel and his companion Sidi Lokman el Hakim, a religious story-teller.
The Arab legend of the Prophet Daniel appeared during the 9th century and was told by two astronomers: Mohamed Ibn Kathir el Farghani and Abou Ma'shar . The story is interesting because it differs greatly from the Bible and has similarities with Alexander's story. It is mentioned that "a young Jew, Daniel, was persecuted and chased from Syria by the idolaters whom he had tried to convert. An old man appeared in a dream urging him to go to war against the infidels and promising victory over all of Asia. Daniel acquired numerous followers in Egypt, where he had sought refuge, and built Alexandria. Obeying what the old man had ordered him in his dream, he made war against the infidels. After a successful expedition, he returned to Alexandria and died of old age".

Another place, which housed the tomb of prophet Daniel is Palace of Darius in Biblical City of Susa, in south western Iran.
The ancient city of Susa is mentioned in Old Testament as the place where prophet Daniel lived. When Cyrus the Great had founded the Persian Empire Susa was declared as one of the three capitals of the empire covering the southern regions. When Darius established his rule over the empire, he set out to built the palace of Persepolis in his home state, and later an equally magnificent palace in his favorite city of Susa. Today we can visit the ruins of this palace built on a hilltop overlooking the modern city of Susa. One can see a white short tower on the western side of the palace hill. The tomb of prophet Daniel is housed inside in this white building on the river bank going through the ancient city of Susa.

The third place known as Daniel's tomb mentioned among the Pilgrimage sites of Hillah in Iraq.

The mausoleum was recently restored.