Imam al-Kazim & Imam al-Jawad Shrine

Baghdad, Iraq

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The Imam al-Kazim and Imam al-Jawad Shrine, known as Al-Kazimiyya Mosque in Baghdad's al-Kadhimiya district, Iraq, is a major Shia pilgrimage site housing the tombs of the seventh Imam, Musa al-Kazim (d. 799 CE), and the ninth Imam, Muhammad al-Jawad (d. 835 CE), both martyred under Abbasid persecution.

Originating over an ancient Quraysh cemetery from 762 CE, the current structure stems from Safavid Shah Ismail I's 16th-century rebuild with golden domes and minarets, later enhanced by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman, Qajar rulers like Nasir al-Din Shah with mirror work and gilding, and expansions adding courtyards, iwans, and porches spanning over 26,000 square meters. 

This architectural gem, blending Persian, Ottoman, and Safavid styles with intricate tiles and steel cenotaphs, draws millions during rituals like the Arba'een pilgrimage despite historical floods, invasions, and modern conflicts.