Karbala

Karbalā' ({{lang-ar|كربلاء}}; also transliterated as Kerbala or Kerbela) is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32.61°N, 44.08°E. The name Karbala is derived from the word 'Karb' means sorrow, and 'Balā' means disaster. In the time of Husain's life, the place was also known as Al-Ghadiriyah, Nainawa, and Syathi'ul-Furat. The estimated population in 2003 was 572,300 people. It is the capital of Al Karbala Province. Shi'a Muslims consider it to be one of the holiest places in the world, after Mecca, Medina, and Najaf.

About the city

The city is one of Iraq's wealthiest, profiting both from religious visitors and its agricultural produce, especially dates. It is split into two districts, "Old Karbala", the religious centre, and "New Karbala", the residential district containing Islamic schools and government buildings.

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At the centre of the old city is the Mashad al-Husain, the tomb of Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad by his daughter Fatima and Ali ibn Abi Talib. Husain's tomb is a place of pilgrimage for many Shi'a Muslims, especially on the anniversary of the battle, the Day of Aashurah. Many elderly pilgrims travel there to await death, as they believe the tomb to be one of the gates to paradise. Another focal point of the Shi'a pilgrimage to Karbala is al-Makhayam, traditionally believed to be the location of Husain's camp, where the martyrdom of Husain and his followers is publicly commemorated. The city's association with Shi'a Islam have made it a centre of religious instruction as well as worship; it has more than 100 mosques and 23 religious schools, of which possibly the most famous is that of Ibn Fahid, constructed some 440 years ago.

Related Topics:
Mashad al-Husain - Husayn bin Ali - Muhammad - Fatima - Ali ibn Abi Talib - Shi'a - Muslims - Aashurah

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