Karbala is a city in central Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad, and a few miles east of Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate, and has an estimated population of 711,530 people (2018). Karbala is one of the most important cities in Shia Islam, and is considered one of the religions foremost holy cities. The citys religious significance derives from the Battle of Karbala, a one-sided contest in which al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, the Shiʿi leader and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his small party were massacred by a much larger force sent by the Umayyad caliph Yazīd I. Ḥusayns tomb, located in the city, is one of the most important Shiʿi shrines and centres of pilgrimage, including the annual Arbaʿeen pilgrimage 40 days after the commemoration of Ḥusayns death. The events of Karbala reflect the collision of good versus evil, right versus wrong, belief versus disbelief, and the oppressed versus the oppressor, faith against brute force. Karbala is also a trade center and a departure point for the pilgrimage to Mecca.