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The Question of Identity: Ethnicity, Language, Religion, and Gender

Islamic Period:  Diversity and Pluralism

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Pilgrims Gather Outside the Mosque of Imam Husayn, Karbala’, Iraq

Pilgrims Gather Outside the Mosque of Imam Husayn, Karbala’, Iraq

Every year Shi’is remember the martyrdom of Husayn, who was one of the grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad and Imam (principal leader) of Islam for Shi’a Muslims. The mosque in Karbala’ is near the site where he was killed in battle in CE 680. This event accelerated the rift between Muslims who believed that leadership of the Islamic community should rest in the hands of descendents of Muhammad (Shi’is) and those who looked to other criteria for leadership of the community (Sunnis).

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