Karbala

This ancient city in Iraq, located sixty miles southwest of Baghdad, is hosting hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslim pilgrims this week.  It was in Karbala, 1300 years ago, that Hussein (a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad) was killed.  Shia mourners have gathered here ever since, to remember his sacrifice and mourn his loss.  The BBC did a brief report in 2003 on Karbala and Najaf, the two holiest cities among Shia Muslims.

Today is the day of 'Ashura, the holiest of days in the Shia Muslim year.  Sunni Muslims also honor this day, but for different reasons and in different ways.

Photo:  The shrine of Imam Abbas reflects in a pool of water in Karbala, Iraq (by Wathiq Khuzaie /Getty Images).

Karbala originally appeared on About.com Islam on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 05:50:39.

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Source: Islam About Dot Com