The Arabic inscription on Abū 'Ubayda's shrine in Jordan

The migration of shrines, particularly of famous personalities, or martyrs is a common phenomenon in Islam as well as in other cultures. In this paper the Mamlūk inscription, dated 1277, over the tomb in 'Ammatā (Jordan) of Abū 'Ubaydah, the close companion of the Prophet, and supreme commander of the Muslim army during the Syrian campaign in the 7th century, is studied against the background of the migration of his grave and the conflicting reports about his death. At least four places are mentioned as his burial place: 'Amawās (Emmaus) in western Palestine, Tiberias, 'Ammatā in Trans-Jordan, and a place to the north of Hcombining dot belowamāh in Syria. There are even traditions that he was buried in Beth Shean (Baysān, Scythopolis) and in Damascus. The inscription, which provides details about the income dedicated to the maintenance of the shrine, marks probably the end of a process that led to the selection of this sanctuary over the others, but leaves the conflicting reports about the general's death and its circumstances open.