Introduction about Al Hilla in Iraq - Assignment Example

Tourism Assignment An Introduction to the of Al Hilla December Al Hilla in Iraq lies on the Hilla branch of the River Euphrates about 97 km south of Baghdad. It is adjacent to the ancient city of Babylon, and is also close to the ancient cities of Borsippa and Kish. In a nearby village towards the city of Najaf lies the tomb of the prophet Dhul Kifl (Ezekiel). Al Hilla itself is believed to be either on or close to the historical site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the world, as well as the Tower of Babylon.

The city was built by Arabs using the bricks from the ruins of Babylon (Akintola, 2011: 65). During Muslim rule, it was a major centre of education and Islamic scholarship. Among its renowned scholars were the historian and astrologer Muhammad ibn Tawus al-Alawi al-Hasam (Singh, 2004: 425), and the Shia legalist recognised as the Imam of his time, Ahmad ibn al Mutawwaj (Cole, 2002: 34). The city is now predominantly occupied by Shias. All Hilla was also visited by the famous Muslim traveller Ibn Battuta in the 14th century on his way to Baghdad (Dunn, 1986: 97).

At the time of the Usmanian (Ottoman) Empire, Al Hilla was a major administrative centre and it remained so during the period of the British Empire. In 1920, heavy fighting took place in the city during an uprising against the British, and in 2003, the city again witnessed heavy fighting against the US Army during the rule of Saddam Hussein. Over the past decade, Al Hilla has been the scene of several bomb attacks due to the American occupation of Iraq, but the situation is relatively peaceful once again.

ReferencesAkintola, Olufolahan. (2011). Nations of the world – How they evolved. Hilldew View International.Cole, Juan. (2002). Sacred space and holy war: the politics, culture and history of Shiite Islam. I. B. Tauris.Dunn, Ross E. (1986). The adventures of Ibn Battuta: a Muslim traveller of the 14th century. University of California Press.Singh, Nagendra Kr. (2004). Encyclopaedic historiography of the Muslim world. Global Vision Publishing House.Image of Al Hilla: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.

com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSs9psdUq_7XPBDpWS-HICQwZD8I2d6V7yH3xk1Z5s3kcHBmvpz4A.