Ayn al-Tamr or Ain al-Tamur ( ar, عين التمر) is a city in central
Iraq, located about 67 km west of
Karbala
Karbala or Kerbala ( ar, كَرْبَلَاء, Karbalāʾ , , also ;) is a city in central Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad, and a few miles east of Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorat ...
near
Razzaza Lake. The oasis of Ayn al-Tamr comprises many villages which are famous for palm orchards and mineral water. The city is considered one of the main sources of
dates
Date or dates may refer to:
*Date (fruit), the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'')
Social activity
*Dating, a form of courtship involving social activity, with the aim of assessing a potential partner
**Group dating
*Play date, an ...
that made it an important hub on the route of
Hajj
The Hajj (; ar, حَجّ '; sometimes also spelled Hadj, Hadji or Haj in English) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried ...
in ancient times.
Background
The city was originally known as ''Ŝeṯâṯa'' or ''Ŝefâṯa'', which means "clear water" or "pure spring" in ancient
Aramaic, until 1938 when it was renamed to Ayn al-Tamr, best known as the location of the
Battle of Ayn al-Tamr
The Battle of Ayn al-Tamr ( ar, معركة عين التمر) took place in modern-day Iraq (Mesopotamia) between the early Muslim Arab forces and the Sassanians along with their Arab Christian auxiliary forces. Ayn al-Tamr is located west of ...
(633).
The region contains many ancient palaces and monasteries, such as
Al-Ukhaidir Fortress, Bardawil Castle, Shimon ibn Jaber Palace, and
Al-Aqiser Church (Mini-Palace Church) which is one of the oldest churches in the
Middle East.
Notable people
*
Ibn Ishaq
Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq ibn Yasār ibn Khiyār (; according to some sources, ibn Khabbār, or Kūmān, or Kūtān, ar, محمد بن إسحاق بن يسار بن خيار, or simply ibn Isḥaq, , meaning "the son of Isaac"; died 767) was an 8 ...
, a
Muslim historian and
hagiographer.
*
Hasan of Basra, a well-known Muslim preacher, theologian, scholar.
*
Ibn Sirin, a Muslim mystic and interpreter of dreams.
*
Abu-l-'Atahiya, an
Arab poet.
*
Muhsin Mahdi, a leading authority on Arabian history, philology, and philosophy.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayn al-Tamr
Populated places in Karbala Province
District capitals of Iraq
Cities in Iraq