Al Zainabi Hill

Al Zainabi Hill is an elevated ground, a small mound reaching five meters above the ground of the Husseini sanctuary, located 20 meters from the Al Hussein Holy Shrine and 35 meters from the site of Imam Hussein's martyrdom.

This sacred hill was named Al Zainabi in honor of the pride of noble women, Zainab daughter of Imam Ali, who honored it by standing upon it as she watched her brother Imam Hussein engaging in his fateful battle in defense of Islam, freedom, and dignity.

Narrations recount that she came out in her complete veil at the moment Imam Hussein fell from his horse, and stood on this spot addressing the Master of Martyrs. Then she turned her gaze toward Medina, calling upon her grandfather the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), saying: "O my grandfather, O my Muhammad, here is Hussein in the open, slain in Karbala." Then she turned her gaze toward Al Ghari (Najaf), calling upon her father the Commander of the Faithful to tell him what had happened.

This shrine holds great standing in the hearts of all who love and visit the Ahl Al Bayt (peace be upon them), especially during the million-strong pilgrimages to the sacred city of Karbala, for the profound and clear significance it carries.

The sacred spot, the direct place where Lady Zainab stood, has been clad with marble to a height of four meters, centered by an Islamic lattice two and a half meters high, at whose center is a silver double-leafed window engraved with verses from the Holy Quran. Entry to the noble shrine is through a teak wood door two meters wide and four meters high, decorated with the noble verse: "Allah only desires to keep away impurity from you, O People of the Household, and to purify you with a thorough purification." The sanctuary area is approximately one hundred square meters, its walls clad with marble topped by a band of Karbala tiles and noble Quranic verses, while above the structure rises a green dome decorated on the inside with mirrors in Islamic style.

The building standing on this hill was renovated in 1398 AH and recently restored. Under the project of the Courtyard of Lady Zainab (peace be upon her), the shrine was expanded from 300 square meters to 3,300 square meters. In its new form it consists of three and a half floors topped by a dome, with modern engravings that harmonize with the spirituality and symbolism of the shrine.

Written on the Karbala tiles at the top of the shrine's main entrance are these verses:

This shrine belongs to Zainab the Elder, the noble lady Daughter of the Prophet and his offspring Daughter of the chosen successor, sister of Hussein And the soul of Al Zahra, Fatima the pure She stood here on the day of Ashura, overwhelmed By the magnitude of her brothers' calamity, bewildered A sanctuary here they built for her sake And likewise a prayer hall, its builder hoping for acceptance.