Rusafa or Al-Rasafa (Arabic: ٱلرُّصَافَة \ رَّصَافَة, romanized: Ruṣāfah / Ar-Raṣāfah) is one of the nine administrative districts in Baghdad, Iraq, on the eastern side of the River Tigris (on the west side of which is Al-Karkh). It is one of the old quarters of Baghdad, situated in the heart of the city, The Rasafa side is one of the main parts of the city of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. Along with Karkh, it forms the essential components of the city, with the Tigris River flowing between them. The Rasafa side is known for its numerous cultural and historical landmarks, including the Old City, the Republic Bridge, and various markets and residential areas. and is home to a number of public squares housing important monumental artworks.

Description

This district is an older area on the eastern side of Baghdad; its central commercial area, a centre of markets considered one of the four old central business districts of Baghdad (Karkh, Rusafa, Adhamiyah and Kadhimiya). It includes many urban features which have become landmarks including Firdos Square and Liberation Square, the biggest landmark in Baghdad and one of the most visited. It has also been home to a number of monumental artworks including the Monument to the Unknown Soldier (1959–2002) designed by local architect, Rifat Chadirji; a statue of Saddam Hussein (2002–2003) by local sculptor Khalid Ezzat, which was replaced by Freedom by local sculptor Bassem Hamad al-Dawiri, all located in Firdos Square. The Freedom Monument (Nasb al-Hurriyah), a work by architect Rifat Chadirji and sculptor Jawad Saleem is Baghdad's most iconic work, and is situated in Liberation Square. The sculpture of Shahriyar and Scheherazade by sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat, situated on the banks of the Tigris River near Abu Nuwas Street, is another example of Iraqi art featured in the area. Neighbourhoods of Rusafa district include Bab Al-Moatham and Al-Sa'adoon.

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal Mosque

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Shrine
مَسْجِد ٱلْإِمَام أَحْمَد بِن حَنۢبَل
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
District	Ar-Rusafah
Province	Baghdad
Region	Middle East / Western Asia
Deity	Allah
Rite	Sunni Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque and shrine
Governing body	Iraqi Sunni Endowment Office
Status	Active
Location
Location	Ar-Rusafah, Baghdad, Iraq
Country	Iraq
Location in Baghdad Show map of Baghdad Al-Rusafa, Iraq (Iraq) Show map of Iraq Al-Rusafa, Iraq (Middle East) Show map of Middle East Al-Rusafa, Iraq (Asia) Show map of Asia
Geographic coordinates	33°20′40″N 44°23′17″E / 33.34444°N 44.38806°E / 33.34444; 44.38806
Architecture
Style	Islamic
Date established	Ottoman era
Specifications
Dome(s)	1
Minaret(s)	1
Site area	500 m (5,400 sq ft)

The Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal Shrine (Arabic: مَسْجِد ٱلْإِمَام أَحْمَد بِن حَنۢبَل, romanized: Masjid Al-Imām Aḥmad Bin Ḥanbal) is a mosque in Al-Rusafah that contains the qabr (grave) of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, a Sunni Imam of Fiqh (Jurisprudence). It is managed by the Sunni Endowment Office of Iraq.

Mausoleum of Abdul-Qadir Gilani

Another prominent shrine in this district is that of the Hanbali Sufi saint, Abdul Qadir Gilani, who founded the Qadiriyya order.

See also

• List of places in Iraq
• List of neighborhoods and districts in Baghdad