Shia Islam in Iraq

An estimated 60-65% of the population of Iraq consider themselves Shi'a Muslims. In addition Iraq is the site of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala , pilgrimage sites for millions of Shi'a Muslims. Najaf is the site of the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib 's (the first Shi'a Imam ), and Karabala is the site of the tomb of the grandson of Muhammad and Shī‘ah Imām, Husayn ibn Ali . Najaf is also a center of Shi'a learning and semenaries. Two other holy sites for Twelver Shia in Iraq are the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad , which containing the tombs of the seventh and ninth Shī‘ah Imām , Mūsā al-Kādhim and Muhammad at-Taqī , and the Al-Askari Mosque in Sāmarrā , Iraq which contains the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imam, Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-‘Askarī .

More than half of the population of Iraq (ca. 70%) are Shia Muslims. In addition, Iraq is the site of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala , pilgrimage sites for millions of Shi'a Muslims. Najaf is the site of the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib (the first Shi'a Imam ), and Karabala is the site of the tomb of the grandson of Muhammad and Shī‘ah Imām, Husayn ibn Ali . Najaf is also a center of Shi'a learning and seminaries. Two other holy sites for Twelver Shia in Iraq are the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad , which contains the tombs of the seventh and ninth Shī‘ah Imāms , Mūsā al-Kādhim and Muhammad at-Taqī , and the Al-Askari Mosque in Sāmarrā , Iraq which contains the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams, Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-‘Askarī . "Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population" .

Shia ( / ˈ ʃ iː ə / ; ) Muslims make up the majority of the Iraqi population, with 55% of Iraqis identifying as Shia Muslims. Shia Islam has a long history in Iraq; the fourth caliph of Sunni Islam and the first Imam of Shia Islam, Ali ibn Abi Talib , moved the capital of the empire from Medina to Kufa (or Najaf ) two decades after the death of Muhammad . Iraq is the location of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala , pilgrimage sites for millions of Shia Muslims. Najaf is the site of Ali's tomb, and Karbala is the site of the tomb of Muhammad's grandson, third Shia Imam Husayn ibn Ali . Najaf is also a center of Shia learning and seminaries. Two other holy sites for Twelver Shia in Iraq are the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad , which contains the tombs of the seventh and ninth Shia Imams ( Mūsā al-Kādhim and Muhammad al-Taqī ) and the Al-Askari Mosque in Sāmarrā , which contains the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams ( Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-‘Askarī ). Since 2003, there has been sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis in the country. "Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population" .

Largest sect of the Muslim majority Ethnic group Shia Islam in Iraq ( ) has a history going back to the times of Ali ibn Abi Talib , the first imam of Shia Islam and fourth caliph of Sunni Islam who moved the capital of the early caliphate from Medina to Kufa (or Najaf ) two decades after the death of Muhammad . Today, Shia Muslims make up the majority of the Iraqi population. Iraq is the location of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala , pilgrimage sites for millions of Shia Muslims. Najaf is the site of Ali's tomb, and Karbala is the site of the tomb of Muhammad's grandson, third Shia imam Husayn ibn Ali . Najaf is also a center of Shia learning and seminaries. Two other holy sites for Twelver Shia in Iraq are the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad , which contains the tombs of the seventh and ninth Shia Imams ( Mūsā al-Kādhim and Muhammad al-Taqī ) and the Al-Askari Mosque in Sāmarrā , which contains the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams ( Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-‘Askarī ). After the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, there has been widespread sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis in Iraq, which became high-intensity in the wars in 2006–2008 and 2013–2017 , which involved the Islamic State terror group.