Karbala:
Karbala' is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad. It is the capital of Al Karbala Province. Shi'a Muslims consider it to be one of the holiest places in the world, second only to Mecca and Najaf.
The city is extremely ancient – its name is variously said to be derived from Assyrian, Babylonian or Persian roots and it was in use as a Christian graveyard prior to the Islamic conquest.
The city is one of Iraq's wealthiest, profiting both from religious visitors and agricultural produce, especially dates. It is made up of 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 Masjid al-Husayn, the tomb of Husayn ibn ‘Ali, grandson of Muhammad by his daughter Fatima tuz-Zahra and ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib. Hussein's tomb is a place of pilgrimage for many Shi‘i Muslims, especially on the anniversary of the battle, the Day of ‘Ashura.
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