'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎125] (134/568)

EELTGIONS
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2. The tomb of Abbas, half-brother of Husein, is situated
taither east. It is similar to, but smaller than, Husein's.
"■ ^ Khniniahgali marks the site of Husein's tent befoi'e the
battle. It is small and unpretentious.
4. The tomb of Aun, Husein's sister's son, is 7 miles NE, of
Kerbela on the road to Museyib.
5. The tomb of Hurr, who joined Husein from the ranks of his
enemies just before the battle, is 3 miles to the north-west.
(iii) Saci cdplciccs connected with Initims. —At Kazimain
is the burial-place of the 7th and 9th Imams, Musa-bin-Tafar and
Mohammed-bin-'Ali {Kadhim, 1 the self-constrained '). The tombs of
the 10th and 11th Imams, Ali-bin-Mohammed and Hasan-bin-'Ali,
are to be seen at Samarra, where also a well is exhibited, said to be
the scene of the disappearance of Mohammed-bin-Hasan el-Mahdi,
12th Imam. Other minor shrines are those of Abul Qasim and
Seyyid Ibrahim at Museyib ; Hamzah and Yasim at Hilla; and Ibn
el-Hasan, the Banat el-Hasan, and Ibn el-Hamzah near Tawarlj.
The management of these Shiah shrines is vested in the Auqaf or
Department of Religious Endowments. At each principal shrine
there is a custodian (Mliddar), chief attendant {sarkhidmah), and lesser
attendants (khadim). The Auqaf are responsible for the finances of
the shrines, which are supported partly by large endowments in the
shape of lands, houses, and shops, partly by special contributions ;
and for the sacred treasure, the value of which is not known even
approximately to outsiders.
. SMah Pilgrimages.—A pilgrimage to the shrines of Irak is con
sidered by Shiahs to be highly meritorious, more especially because
it is voluntary, instead of being obligatory like the to Mecca or
Medina. There is no fixed time for these pilgrimages, though certain
days of the Mohammedan year are considered more auspicious than
others for the performance of the ceremonies prescribed for visitors
to the holy places; consequently pilgrims arrive and depart at all
seasons of the year, preferably however in winter, between November
and April. 1. wo routes are commonly followed : pilgrims from north
western Persia cross the frontier at Khanikin ; those from southern
Persia, India, and the I ersian Gulf arrive by sea at Basra. In ordinary
circumstances 150,000-200,000 pilgrims may visit Mesopotamia in
a year. Probably far more have made the journey in recent years,
and there is also an immense pilgrim traffic from within the
bounds of Mesopotamia itself. Some aspects of these migrations
have already been discussed, for instance their share in the dis
semination of disease (p. 68), and they supply a considerable stimulus
to trade both external and internal. Each band of pilgrims