Kerbala & Najaf

These two sites are of great religious significance to Muslims.

Kerbala, lying 108km southwest of Baghdad, is the site of the battle of Kerbala, which was fought in AD680 between the two main Islamic sects -- Sunni and Shiite. The leader of the Shiite sect, ::I and his brother Abbas, were both killed in the battle. As they were grandsons of the Prophet Mohammed, shrines were built to commemorate them in two mosques in Kerbala. Visiting these shrines is a significant goal for Islamic pilgrims.

Najaf contains the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib in a mosque in the city centre. The sacred shrine commemorates a cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed, who founded the Shiite sect. Muslims regard it as a great honour to be buried at either of these sites.