Al-Abbas Shrine

The Tomb of Abbas

Under the shrine's dome rests Abbas ibn Ali, the standard-bearer who died trying to bring water to Husayn's camp. His tomb, wrapped in mirror-work and gold, draws pilgrims who come to honour his loyalty and make their vows.

The Saqqa-khana (Place of Water)

Because Abbas is remembered for seeking water for the thirsty children of Karbala, his shrine is bound up with water and giving. Pilgrims pause here to drink and reflect, recalling his sacrifice at the bank of the Euphrates.

The Water-Bearer Who Lost His Hands

This shrine honours al-Abbas, half-brother and standard-bearer of Husayn, who at thirty-three rode out on Ashura to fetch water for the thirsty children of the camp. He lost both hands in the fighting, the waterskin fell, and he is revered ever since for his chivalry and devotion.

The Esplanade Between the Shrines

Step onto the marble bayn al-haramayn, the roughly 378-metre plaza linking al-Abbas to the Husayn shrine. Tradition holds this very ground was the battlefield of Karbala, and today it gathers tens of millions of pilgrims shoulder to shoulder at Arba'een.

A Sky of Mirrors

Pass beneath al-Abbas's distinctive teardrop-shaped dome into an interior sheathed in fine mirror mosaic. Every surface fractures the light of countless lamps into a shimmering canopy above the Iranian carpets.

The Zarih Built by Iraqi Hands

The silver-and-gold latticed enclosure around Abbas's grave was installed in 2016 and carries a special distinction. It is reported to be the first zarih ever built entirely in Iraq by Iraqi craftsmen, a source of national pride for pilgrims who reach to touch it.