Al Abbas Mosque

Al-‘Abbās Mosque
Shown within Iraq
Basic information
Location	Karbalā, Iraq
Geographic coordinates	32°37′1.88″N 44°2′10.38″E / 32.6171889°N 44.0362167°E / 32.6171889; 44.0362167Coordinates: 32°37′1.88″N 44°2′10.38″E / 32.6171889°N 44.0362167°E / 32.6171889; 44.0362167
Affiliation	Shia Islam

The Al-‘Abbās Mosque or Masjid al-‘Abbās (Arabic: مسجد الامام العباس‎‎) is the mausoleum of ‘Abbās ibn ‘Alī and historical building, located across from the Imām Husayn Mosque in Karbalā, Iraq. ‘Abbās was son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the half-brother of Hasan and Husayn, and was the flag-bearer for Husayn in the Battle of Karbalā. Also, he was the chief of the caravans of Husayn ibn Ali. The distance between the shrines of ‘Abbās and Husayn is the same as the distance between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah. The shrine is especially revered by the Shia who visit it every year, in the month of Muharram rather than various other times of the year.

Environmental effects over the years have caused the Euphrates river to change direction. Nearly 1400 years after the Battle of Karbalā, the river flows across the grave of ‘Abbās 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.