Al-Abbas Shrine
The Al-Abbas Shrine (Arabic: حَرَم أَبِي ٱلْفَضْل ٱلْعَبَّاس, romanized: Ḥaram ʿAbī al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbās) is the mausoleum of Abbas ibn Ali and a mosque, located near the Imam Husayn Mosque in Karbala, Iraq. Abbas was son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the half-brother of Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn. He was Husayn's flag-bearer in the Battle of Karbala and chief of his caravans. The shrine is revered by the Shia Muslims who visit it every year, especially in the month of Muharram.
| Al-Abbas Shrine | |
|---|---|
Arabic: حَرَم أَبِي ٱلْفَضْل ٱلْعَبَّاس | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Rite | Shia |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque and shrine |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Karbala |
| Country | Iraq |
Location in Iraq | |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°37′1.88″N 44°2′10.38″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Islamic architecture |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 1 |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
Environmental effects over the years have caused the Euphrates river to change course. Nearly 1,400 years after the Battle of Karbala, the river flows across the grave of Abbas and encircles it. It is said that the Euphrates has come to ‘Abbās now.
In recent years the shrine has undergone a series of enhancements and additions, such as the re-gilding of the dome, and more recently covering the former courtyard with a roof to accommodate pilgrims better. Each year the shrine is visited by millions of pilgrims coming from all over the world.