Islam in Iraq

Islam in Iraq has a rich complicated history that has come to be over almost 1,400 years, since the Prophet Muhammad lived and died in 632 CE. As one of the first places in the world to accept Islam, Iraq is mostly Muslim nation, with about 98% of the people identifying as Muslim. There are the two main branches of Islam in Iraq: Shia Islam, which is practiced by about 61% of Muslims and Sunni Islam, which is practiced by about 35%.

Baghdad, which was once the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and a center of Islamic scholarship, is one of the most important religious cities in Iraq. It is very important to both Shia and Sunni communities. The Kadhimiya neighborhood in Baghdad is famous for having the shrines of two important Shia Imams. Karbala, on the other hand, is respected for being the site of the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, which had a significant impact on Shia beliefs and practices. The tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam and the fourth caliph, is in Najaf, which is another important city. This makes it a major pilgrimage spot.

The famous Sunni thinker Abu Hanifa taught in Kufa and Ibn Hanbal taught in Baghdad. This is historical evidence of how important Iraq is as a hub for Islamic thought and government. Another important place of worship is the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, which is home to the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams. Throughout history, Iraq has also been the site of many fitnas, or religious splits, that have changed the way sects interact with each other. This makes it an important place to study Islamic history and the relationships between different sects.