The Imam Husayn Shrine (Arabic: مَقَام ٱلْإِمَام ٱلْحُسَيْن ٱبْن عَلِيّ, romanized: Maqām al-ʾImām al-Ḥusayn ʾibn ʿAlī) is the mosque and burial site of Husayn ibn Ali, the third Imam of Shia Islam, in the city of Karbala, Iraq. It stands on the site of the Mausoleum of Husayn, who was a grandson of Muhammad, near the place where he embraced martyrdom during the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE^[1][2] The tomb of Husayn is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, outside of Mecca and Medina, and many make pilgrimages to the site. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the city to observe Ashura, which marks the commemoration of Husayn's death for all Muslims.^[3]

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Imam Husayn Shrine
مَقَام ٱلْإِمام ٱلْحُسَيْن ٱبْن عَلِيّ
Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Rite	Shia Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque and shrine
Status	Active
Location
Location	Karbala, Iraq
Location in Iraq
Geographic coordinates	32°36′59″N 44°01′57″E
Architecture
Type	Abbasid architecture, Islamic architecture
Completed	680 CE
Specifications
Dome(s)	2
Dome height (outer)	27 metres (89 ft)
Minaret(s)	2 (formerly 3)

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The boundary wall of the shrine surrounds wooden gates covered with glass decorations. The gates open into a courtyard separated into smaller rooms or precincts with many "Iwans" along the walls. The grave of Husayn is enclosed within a metal-mesh like structure, found directly beneath the golden dome. On 5 March 2013, the process of replacing the zarih (metal mesh like structure) over the tomb of Husayn was completed and the new zarih inaugurated.^[4] Al Abbas Mosque is located nearby. Plans to replace the shrine's historic dome with a modern steel framed one have been met with controversy, especially by historic preservationists as it would severely distort the shrine's historic integrity and character.^[5]

The first dome is 27 metres (89 ft) high and completely covered with gold. At the bottom, it is surrounded with twelve windows, each of which is about 1.25 metres (4 ft 1 in) away from the other, from the inside, and 1.30 metres (4 ft 3 in) from the outside. The shrine has an area of 59 metres (194 ft) by 75 metres (246 ft) with ten gates, and about 65 decorated rooms used for studying.

Husayn bought a piece of land after his arrival at Karbala' from Bani Asad. He and his Ahl al-Bayt are buried in that portion, known as al-Ḥā'ir(الحائر), where the Shrines are presently located. The history of destruction and reconstruction of the Shrines of Karbala' is long. Both the Shrines were greatly extended by successive Muslim rulers, but suffered repeated destruction from attacking armies. Several rulers extended, decorated and kept the Shrines and its precincts in good condition. Among them is Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, who in 1250 AH ordered the construction of two Shrines, one over Husayn's grave and the other over the grave of his half-brother, Abbas ibn Ali.

From the time of Husayn ibn Ali's death in 680, pilgrimages to commemorate the massacre have often been repressed.^[8] Despite many attempts by successive rulers, such as Al-Rashīd and Al-Mutawakkil, to put a restriction on the development of the area, it has nonetheless evolved into a city.

The historian Ibn Kuluwayh mentioned that those who buried Husayn ibn 'Alī constructed a special, durable identifying marker for the gravesite.

Larger, more significant construction on the gravesite began during the rule of al-Saffah (reign: 750–754 AD), the first caliph of the long-lasting Abbasid caliphate (an Islamic dynasty). However, heavy restrictions were put in place to prevent people from visiting the grave during the rule of Hārūn al-Rashīd, the fifth Abbasid caliph (reign: 786–809 AD).

During the rule of al-Mā'mūn, the seventh Abbasid caliph (reign: 813–833 AD), gravesite construction resumed until the year 850 AD, when al-Mutawakkil ordered the destruction of the grave and the filling of the resulting pit with water. His son who succeeded him as caliph, al-Muntasir, allowed people to visit the gravesite, and since then, building the precinct to the grave increased and developed step by step.

On the other hand, the historian Ibn al-Athir, stated that in the year 981 AD (371 AH), 'Adhud ad-Dawlah became the first to expansively lay the foundations for large-scale construction and to generously decorate the place. He also built houses and markets around the precinct, and surrounded Karbalā with a high boundary wall, turning it into a strong castle.

In the year 407 AH (1016 AD), the precinct caught fire due to the dropping of two large candles on the wooden decorations. The state minister at the time, Hasan ibn Fadl, rebuilt the damaged sections.

• Arba'een
• Al-Abbas Mosque
• Al Hussein Mosque, Cairo
• Bab al-Saghir
• Mashhad Al Husayn, Ashkelon
• Holiest sites in Shia Islam
• Jannat al-Baqi'
• Jannat al-Mu'alla