Abdul Saleh al-Killidar
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1911
Abdul Saleh al-Killidar | |
|---|---|
| السيد عبد الصالح الكليدار | |
| 38th Custodian of the Imam Husayn Shrine | |
| In office May 18, 1931 – June 7, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Husayn al-Killidar |
| Succeeded by | Adel al-Killidar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abd al-Saleh Abd al-Husayn Ali Tumah 1911 |
| Died | October 30, 2005 (aged 93–94) London, England |
| Resting place | Karbala |
| Relatives | Dhia Jafar (first cousin) |
Sayyid Abd al-Saleh Abd al-Husayn al-Killdar Tumah (Arabic: عبد الصالح عبد الحسين الكليدار آل طعمه; 1911–October 30, 2005) was an Iraqi nobleman that served as the 38th custodian of the Imam Husayn shrine from 1931 until 1981.[1][2][3]
al-Killidar was born in 1911 to Abdul Husayn al-Killidar.[4] He is from the Tumah branch of the Al Faiz family. His grandfather Jawad took on the name al-Killidar (Arabic: الكليدار) which roots from kileet (Persian: كليت) dar (Persian: دار), which translates to key holder in Persian, a name often given to those that take on the role of tending to holy shrines.[5] His mother is the daughter of renowned merchant, Abd al-Hadi al-Astarabadi. His maternal uncle, Mahmoud al-Astarabadi, was a member of the senate in the royal era for the city of Kadhimiya.[6][7]
He grew up and completed his high school studies in Karbala, and in 1928, his father passed down the sidana as he was going to become a member of the Iraqi senate in Baghdad. He took responsibility of the sidana in 1928, was officially assigned in 1931.[8]
al-Killidar helped rebuild his fathers library, after it was burnt in the Hamza Bey incident of 1915.[9][10]
In 1966, al-Killidar renewed the clock of the shrine, that was gifted by Naser al-Din Shah in 1891. al-Killidar imported the clock from Germany, and it remained in the shrine until the 1991 uprising, where it was destroyed during one of the Baathist helicopter gunship attacks.[11]
al-Killidar retired on June 7, 1981, after serving for just under 50 years, and passed down the custodianship to his son, Adel.[12]
Personal life
al-Killidar was married to his second cousin, Iftikhar al-Astarabadi. She was the daughter of Khalil al-Astarabadi (1877–1970), the last mayor of Karbala under the Hashemite monarchy.[13] He had three sons, Ali (d. 2018; dean of engineering at University of Baghdad), Adel (who became the saden after him) and Abdelilah and two daughters Afaf and Awatif. al-Killidar was fluent in English and Persian.[8]
