Karbala is reputed to be the city whereHusayn, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, was martyred. Karbala is also the site of two important Shiite mosques,Al Abbass Mosque andImam Hussain Mosque. Shiites observe a 40-day mourning period for this Imam every spring followed by a pilgrimage to this site.[1]
Najaf is the site ofAli ibn Abi Talib's tomb known to Shiites as "the wondrous place of martyrdom" and site of one of the world's largest and most important Muslim cemeteries. Najaf is also the site ofImam Ali Mosque one of the holiestShi'ite mosques.
Great Mosque of Kufa inKufa, Iraq - contains the tombs of Muslim ibn Aqeel, Khadijah bint Ali,Hani ibn Urwa, andAl-Mukhtar. The mosque also contains many important sites relating to the prophets and Ali, including the place where he was fatally struck on the head while in prostration,Sujud.
Assyrian Christians constitute one of the most indigenous communities in the country. Iraq houses some of the most ancient early Christian material culture, including various churches and monasteries in Tikrit, Nineveh, Dohuk, and the Barwari Bala region. These sites include St. Hermiz and St. Matthew monasteries in the town of Alqosh, the churches of Mar Qayoma and St. George in the Assyrian village Dure in Barwar, St. Bnai Shmuni in Aradan, Sapna region, as well as St. Odisho in the village Dere, also in the Sapna region in Northern Iraq.
Baghdad – The House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad, is a place ofBaháʼí pilgrimage. Its significance is that it is whereBahá'u'lláh lived in from 1853 to 1863 (except for two years). It is designated in theKitáb-i-Aqdas as a place of pilgrimage and is considered a holy place byBaháʼís.[1] During the 1920s the house was confiscated byShiah authorities, who were hostile to the Baháʼí Faith. The Council of theLeague of Nations upheld the Baháʼí's claim to the house, but it has not yet been returned to the Baháʼí community.[1][2]
