The Blue Mosque of Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, is actually the Shrine of Ali. It was built in the 15th century by Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah, after some pious men made the same dream vision that on the certain location was located the body of the venerated Ali ibn Abi Thalib, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad. According to local legend, here has been buried Ali who reportedly was brought here by a white camel in order to save his remains from the desecration by his enemies. This is contrary to the belief most Muslims in the world, that Ali was buried in Najaf, Iraq.
The grand mausoleum is the most important landmark in Mazar-e-Sharif, and is the reason of the city’s name. Mazar-e-Sharif literally means “The Noble Graveyard Shrine”.
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, 2009