Iraq: Difference between revisions

The origin of Shi'ism in Iraq goes back to the time of [[Imam Ali (a)]], which started in [[Kufa]]. A large number of [[hadith]] narrators in Kufa were Shi'a Muslims, who transmitted Shi'ism to [[Baghdad]] in the middle of the second/eighth century. Although Shi'ism originated from [[Medina]], Kufa is regarded as their leading base. One third of Kufa people were Shi'a in the time of [[Umayyad dynasty]]. Shi'ism expanded from Kufa to other cities including Baghdad, [[Basra]] and a number of cities in [[Iran]]. [[Abu Bakr al-Khwarizmi]] (d. 383) sent a letter to Shi'a Muslims in [[Neyshabur]] and introduced Shi'ism as religion originated from Iraq:

The land known as Iraq, except for Baghdad and the northern regions is the region that Shi'a Muslims are living in. In fact, the place that [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]'s blood shed, initiated the expansion of Shi'ism.

A large number of Shi'a Muslims of [[Basra]] opposed the enemies of [[Imam Ali (a)]] in the [[battle of Jamal]]. The tribe of 'Abd al-Qays who were living in Basra were Shi'a Muslims and followers of Imam Ali (a). [[Khuza'a]] and [[Bajila]] tribes were Shi'ite. When Imam al-Husayn (a), set out for Kufa, he sent a letter to Shi'a Muslims of Basra and invited them to support him. They gathered around in the house of [[Mariya al-'Abdiyya]]. [[Sharik b. A'war]], a prominent Shi'a figure in Basra, passed away just before the martyrdom of [[Muslim b. 'Aqil]]. Shi'a Muslims of Basra were mentioned in the ancient historical books. [['Abd al-'Aziz al-Jaludi]] was a Shi'a author from Basra. The names of hundreds of Shi'ite figures from Basra were mentioned in the book ''al-Nusra li Shi'at al-Basra''. Baridis, Shahiniyya, and Banu Mazid were a number of Shi'a rulers in Basra. Today Basra is the second largest city of Iraq and one of the most important Shi'ite cities in the world.