Iraq: The hand of Abbas, a photo from Karbala, South

Photographer's Note

Travels on the Silk Road:

Karbala may not be situated near the Silk Road proper but there were certainly caravans that travelled from Baghdad to Basra in medieval times and before. Kerbala is one of the most important places for Shi'ite pilgrims, after Hadj and after Najaf. For travel in Iraq you need a visa, so it was a Pilgrim's visa for our small group of tourists. Yes, it's true, Iraq is no longer at war, tourism is possible if difficult, people relax even if almost all families have had a price to pay in the past. Numerous security checkpoints keep up law and order.

Karbala with its two shrines for Abbas and Huseyn that died here in the battle against the Umayiad Khalif Yazid-I, impresses even the non-Muslim by its sheer size and splendor. The town and the two mausolea had to be rebuilt after the sacking in 1802 by Wahabits from the South by the Sunnite Ottoman rulers (thanks, Wikipedia).

This is a snap shot on the way from the Hotel Jawash to the sanctuaries. See Map: View for the location. You may note that Old mixes with New (the skeletal hand of Al-Abbas is exhibited in the domed structure; air conditioning and energy efficient light bulbs are in evidence).

maloutim, yas777 has marked this note useful

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ACL1978 (7511) 2013-03-05 18:04

Now here is a little-seen destination on TE - looks like only three members have made it there in the past couple of years, and you're one of them. Nice night scene here, full of life, light and motion. Interesting also to see the women in hijab - not common in much of Iraq, but certainly more so in the south, from what I understand. Thanks for this rare look.

Andrew

kohdarmiansali (366) 2017-11-30 0:50

The great martyr went to the Euphrates River during the thirst of fellows, children and enemies from the group of enemies, but after filling the enemy's water, they attacked him and first he cut off his hands in this place and took the martyr Mashg to the teeth and the enemies He attacked him again and threw water into a hole and he was disappointed with bringing water.

It should be remembered that the martyr is famous for the lust of hunger, because it brings water, but does not drink it.
این شهید بزرگ در هنگام تشنگی یاران و کودکان و از بین گروه دشمنان به سمت رودخانه فرات رفت ولی پس از پر کردن مشگ آب دشمنان به وی حمله کردند و ابتدا دستهایش را در این محل قطع کردند و آن شهید مشگ را به دندان گرفت و دشمنان دوباره به وی حمله کرده و مشگ آب را سوراخ و وی ناامید از آوردن آب شد.

لازم به یاد آوری است که آن شهید به سقای تشنه لب معروف است زیرا آب را با خود آورد ولی از آن ننوشید