Shrines of Companions and Spiritual Figures in Kilis: Prayer, Memory and the City’s Past

At the entrance to a shrine, the conversation beside you may grow quieter. If someone is praying inside, you wait. The pace of exploring a city changes almost without you noticing.

People visit the shrines of Kilis to pray, remember and maintain a connection with the past. Stories passed down through generations are as much a part of this tradition as the buildings themselves.

Those stories don’t all have the same historical foundation. Understanding this heritage means distinguishing documented information from local tradition and places commemorating a particular figure.

How Many Companion Shrines Are There in Kilis?

The frequently repeated description of “22 Companion tombs” needs some explanation. Tourism accounts refer to 22 shrines or commemorative sites attributed to Companions of the Prophet Muhammad and open to visitors.

That should not be read as confirmation of 22 individually authenticated graves.

A tomb, a commemorative site and a place of visitation are not necessarily the same thing. A makam may preserve someone’s memory without establishing that the person was buried there.

Recognising this distinction allows the history to be described carefully while respecting the significance these places hold for visitors.

Sheikh Muhammed Bedevi Shrine

The shrine of Sheikh Muhammed Bedevi stands around Kalleş Hill, west of central Kilis.

Local accounts associate him with the army led by Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah during the caliphate of Umar and state that he died as a martyr in the area in 639. These details belong to the historical and devotional tradition attached to the shrine.

When visiting, take time to observe how the place is used. You’re entering a setting shaped by a longstanding practice of remembrance.

Follow the entrance arrangements and give those praying inside room to finish. Let the character of the place determine your pace as much as your schedule does.

Sheikh Mansur Shrine

Approximately three kilometres south of Kilis, Sheikh Mansur Shrine is known for its pale stone and domed form. The absence of an inscription identifying the person buried there or recording a death date calls for caution when interpreting its history.

The name Sheikh Muhammed Simati also appears in accounts associated with the site. A narrative recorded by Evliya Çelebi emphasises welcoming visitors and feeding people in need.

That image of hospitality may stay with you: making room for someone arriving from the road, offering food and receiving a guest.

You can appreciate the story as part of the site’s tradition without combining different names and accounts into a single, certain biography.

The Site Attributed to Talha and Zubayr

On Abdioymağı Avenue, a building containing two cenotaphs is known locally as the Shrine of Talha and Zubayr.

The historical references are not consistent. The cultural heritage record notes that an Aleppo provincial yearbook mentions a grave associated with Talha but not Zubayr. It also states that Evliya Çelebi did not describe this particular site.

It is therefore more accurate to call it a place of visitation attributed to Talha and Zubayr, rather than presenting it as their confirmed burial place.

A cenotaph alone does not establish who lies beneath it. The history of devotion at a site and the identification of a burial are separate questions.

You can respect the prayers and remembrance attached to the place while remaining attentive to those questions.

Look at the Architecture, Too

During a shrine visit, allow your attention to move beyond the cenotaph. Notice the plan, entrance, windows and roof.

At Sheikh Mansur Shrine, the square layout, northern entrance and windows on different sides help explain the building’s arrangement.

Sometimes a small window changes the way a room feels. You don’t need to move around constantly to notice it. A brief pause in an appropriate place may be enough.

Avoid assuming every visible detail belongs to the original construction. Repairs, renewed surfaces and later additions may coexist within the same historic building.

How Should You Plan Your Visits?

Check the locations separately rather than expecting these three places to stand next to one another. Arrange transport accordingly, and ask about current access or maintenance work before travelling.

Follow guidance about clothing, footwear and photography. Don’t photograph people at prayer, and avoid touching or leaning against protected surfaces.

If someone shares a story, remember how it was presented. “This is the local tradition” carries a different meaning from “This is historically established.”

Both care for people’s beliefs and care with historical information can accompany a visit.

As you step outside, you may find yourself keeping your voice low for a little longer.