Bab al-Saghir Cemetery

One of the world's oldest Islamic cemeteries near Damascus old city, a pilgrimage site holding graves of early Islamic figures.

Bab al-Saghir Cemetery lies just southwest of the Damascus old city walls, near the gate of the same name. It is one of the oldest Islamic cemeteries in the world and the resting place of numerous significant figures from early Islamic history — including companions of the Prophet Muhammad and members of his family. For Shia Muslims in particular, it is an important pilgrimage destination. The narrow pathways between the tomb monuments are filled with devotion and the scent of incense; many graves are adorned with coloured tiles and decorative ironwork.