    karbala (; karbalÄâ; also referred to as karbalÄ' al-muqaddasah) is a city in iraq, located about  southwest of baghdad. karbala is the capital of karbala governorate, and has an estimated population of 572,300 people (2003). the city, best known as the location of the battle of karbala (680), is amongst the holiest cities for shia muslims alongside mecca and medina and the noble sanctuary in jerusalem. it is home to the imam hussein shrine. karbala is famous as the site of the martyrdom of hussein ibn ali (imam husayn), and commemorations are held by millions of shias annually to remember it. karbala is considered sacred by shias and rivals mecca as a place of pilgrimage. ==etymol
Cities_in_Iraq District_capitals_of_Iraq Fertile_Crescent Holy_cities Karbala Shia_holy_cities