Islam in Iraq

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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.^[1] 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.^[2] There are the two main types of Islam in Iraq: Shia Islam, which is practiced by about 55-60% of Muslims, and Sunni Islam, which is practiced by about 35-40%.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5] Karbala, on the other hand, is respected for being the site of the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, which had a signifant impact on Shia beliefs and practices.^[6] 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.^[7]

The famous Sunni thinker Abu Hanifah taught in Kufa.^[8] 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.^[9] Throughout history, Iraq has also been the site of many fitnas, or religious splits, that have changed the way sects interact with each other.^[10][11] This makes it an important place to study Islamic history and the relationships between different sects.^[12]