Al Abbas Mosque, Religious mausoleum in Karbala District, Iraq.
Al Abbas Mosque is a mausoleum with two tall minarets and a golden teardrop-shaped dome in Karbala. The outer walls display finely worked geometric patterns in tilework that wrap around the entire building.
Al-Mokhtar Al-Thaqafi began the first construction in 684 using bricks and mud at the burial site. The shrine was expanded and transformed over the centuries with the introduction of gold and silver materials.
The shrine takes its name from the half-brother of Imam Husain, who fell during battle while seeking water for the camp. Visitors often touch the silver lattice surrounding the inner tomb while reciting verses from the Quran.
Visitors should wear conservative clothing that covers shoulders and knees before entering the interior. Separate entrances for men and women lead into different sections of the complex with their own prayer rooms.
The Euphrates shifted its course over the centuries and now flows around the grave. The river water is considered especially pure by pilgrims and used for ritual washing.
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