Best known as the location of the Battle of Karbala, the city is among the holiest cities alongside Mecca and Medina, according to Wednesday edition of the English language newspaper Iran Daily.
Karbala is famous as the site of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH) along with his family and companions by the army of tyrant king Yazid for refusing to give their oath of allegiance.
The women and children were made prisoners and taken to Yazid's court in Damascus.
Commemorations are held worldwide by millions of Muslims annually on the 10th of the lunar month Muharram known as Ashura.
Many Shias express the wish to be buried in and around Karbala in their will.
The tradition of embarking on a pilgrimage to Karbala from far and wide to pay their respects to Imam Hussein (PBUH) is interesting for Western researchers.
British orientalist Dwight M. Donaldson wrote in his book "The Shiite Religion " in 1933, “Many pilgrims from Muslim nations visit Karbala, a majority of whom are Iranians.”
One of the famous Iranian personalities buried in Karbala is Amir Kabir who was prime minister during the Qajar era. After he was murdered upon the order of Nassereddin Shah, he was buried in a cemetery in Kashan. However, his wife Ezzatoddoleh transferred his body to Karbala and buried him in a chamber tomb lining the courtyard of the Mausoleum of Imam Hussein (PBUH).
Allameh Vahid Behbahani, one of the most outstanding religious authorities, was also laid to rest in Karbala.
Behbahani was born in Isfahan and migrated to Najaf for continuing his higher religious studies. He was considered a grand ayatollah. Initially, he lived in Behbahan and finally moved to Karbala.
Sheikh Mohammad Taqi Shirazi, one of the sources of emulation of Shias, was also buried in Karbala.
Many Iranian kings have also been buried in the northern portico of the Mausoleum of Imam Hussein (PBUH), including Qajar kings Mozaffareddin Shah, Mohammad Ali Shah, Ahmad Shah and crown prince, Mohammad Hussein Mirza.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims converge on Karbala to mark Ashura. The event is marked by mourning ceremonies that commemorate Imam Hussein's (PBUH) sacrifice and remind pilgrims of their Islamic obligations.
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Tehran, July 15, IRNA -- Karbala in Iraq is one of the most sacred cities for Shia Muslims. It is the burial site of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (PBUH).
