Karbalā' is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32.61°N, 44.08°E. The capital of Al Karbala Province, the city of Karbala had an estimated population in 2003 of 572,300 people. Shi'a Muslims consider Karbala to be one of the holiest places in the world, second only to Mecca and Najaf.
Karbala is one of Iraq's wealthiest cities, profiting both from religious visitors and its agricultural produce, especially dates. It is split into two districts, "Old Karbala", the religious center, and "New Karbala", the residential district containing Islamic schools and government buildings.
At the center 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 Ashura. 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 center 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.
Karbala is one of Iraq's wealthiest cities, profiting both from religious visitors and its agricultural produce, especially dates. It is split into two districts, "Old Karbala", the religious center, and "New Karbala", the residential district containing Islamic schools and government buildings.
At the center 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 Ashura. 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 center 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.