Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A city in central Iraq: Kerbela is a city located south of Baghdad, Iraq.
   • A holy site in Shia Islam: It is a sacred city for Shiite Muslims because it is the location of the tomb of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed there in the year 680 AD.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Many pilgrims travel to Kerbela each year.
  • The Battle of Kerbela is a central event in Shia history.

Advanced Usage

• "the events of Kerbela": This phrase refers to the historical battle and martyrdom that established the city's religious significance.
  • The events of Kerbela are commemorated during the month of Muharram.

Variants and Related Words

• Karbala: An alternative common transliteration of the city's name from Arabic.
• Shiite/Shia: The branch of Islam for which Kerbela is a holy city.
• Husayn ibn Ali: The figure whose martyrdom at Kerbela is the source of its sanctity.

Synonyms

• Holy city (in the specific context of Shia Islam).
• Pilgrimage site.

Related Phrases

• Pilgrimage to Kerbela: The religious journey undertaken by Shia Muslims.
  • Performing the pilgrimage to Kerbela is a deeply spiritual act.

Related Idioms

• "Remember Kerbela": Used to invoke the themes of sacrifice, justice, and perseverance associated with the historical event.
  • In times of struggle, they would say, "Remember Kerbela."

Noun

1. a city of central Iraq to the south of Baghdad; a holy city for Shiite Muslims because it is the site of the tomb of Mohammed's grandson who was killed there in 680