Kerbela Province

At the edge of the desert, surrounded by beautiful greenery of fruit orchards and palm groves lies the holy city of Kerbela. The city is built around the twin Shrines of al-Hussien and that of al-Abass. Kerbela includes: the sacred city with its twin shrines to al-Hussein and al-Abbas, the core of the old city, including the souq between the mosques.

The name of Kerbela brings up immediately the story of Imam al-Hussien. His martyrdom, and some 70 of his family and companions, at the plains of Kerbela in the Battle of Tuffis one of the great defining moments of history. Al-Hussein is the second son of Imam Ali (who is buried in Najaf province, southern Iraq, some80 kilometers south of Kerbela) and grandson of Prophet Mohammed.

Facing al-Hussien's Shrine is that of his younger brother al-Abass. Al-Abass was also martyred in the same tragic battle as al-Hussien. He was ambushed while trying to get badly needed water to his brother and his followers.

50kms.away, in the desert, is the famed Ukhaidher Castle.