From the war against ISIS a decade back to the American-Israeli attack on Iran in 2026, the Battle of Karbala fought in 680 CE continues to shape how resistance, sacrifice, and justice are understood across the Shia world
The Dawoodi Bohras, a branch of the Ismaili Shia Muslim sect, have for centuries been unified under a supreme spiritual leader or Dai Syedna that has helped them remain well-knit and maintain a unique cultural identity
The Iraqi clergy took a leading role in defeating ISIS by employing religious symbolism as Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa urging men to resist and led to a surge in volunteers for the Popular Mobilisation Force
Zainab bint Ali witnessed first-hand her brother Imam Hussain’s bravery in the Battle of Karbala, upholding Islam’s foundational ideals of egalitarianism and justice, refused to be silenced, challenged tyrant Yazid in his court and played a key role in memorializing her family’s sacrifice with resilience and eloquence, symbolising strength and defiance against tyranny
Mukhayyam al Husayni Mosque, over 400 metres from Imam Hussain’s shrine, stands at what is believed to be the site of the encampment of the Prohet’s grandson and his family during the Battle of Karbala
The Prophet’s grandson, Imam Hussain, opposed the undermining of basic Islamic values of egalitarianism, justice, and equity, triggering the Battle of Karbala that ended with his massacre along with 72 of his companions and family members in the month of Muharram
The strength people drew from Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussain, who laid down his life fighting an unjust ruler in the seventh century, played a key role in seeing Iraqis through in the war on ISIS
Beyond its pilgrimage sites, a culture of resistance, resilience, and determination, Iraq’s Karbala has a rich cultural landscape that includes shisha cafes, and heritage, showcasing a unique blend of faith, community, and daily life
Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai, the senior cleric of Karbala’s Imam Hussain shrine and survivor of multiple assassination attempts, emerged as a powerful voice during Iraq’s war against ISIS, rejecting sectarian framing of the conflict and emphasizing Shia-Sunni-Christian unity
Shah Rukh Khan, India’s biggest film star, defines the potential of Indian soft power in unlikely places such as Iraq where hardly anyone even understands the language of his films
