The Shrine of the Prophet Habil

Perched on a verdant slope above the Barada Valley, the Shrine of Prophet Abel shimmers beneath its green dome, welcoming a remarkable array of Muslim and Christian visitors alike. The elongated marble tomb is framed by a hall clad in Persian mirrors that emit a soft, luminous glow, while the courtyard is filled with the fragrant scent of samḥ, a traditional aromatic herb offered as a votive gift. The shrine was commissioned in 1599 by Ottoman decree, and over the centuries expanded to include a Druze retreat and a raised terrace for pilgrims journeying from Iraq and Iran.