Battle of Karbala

1 9.4

A battle in 680 near Karbala where Husayn ibn Ali and his followers are killed

proper noun

: Batalla de Karbala

The historical significance of the Battle of Karbala has shaped the religious practices of Shi'a Muslims worldwide.

Examples

Every year, millions of people commemorate the Battle of Karbala during the Islamic month of Muharram.
Scholars often discuss the aftermath of the Battle of Karbala in the context of Islamic history.
Scholars often discuss the aftermath of the Battle of Karbala in the context of Islamic history.
The Battle of Karbala was a significant event in Islamic history.
Many people commemorate the Battle of Karbala every year.
Every year, millions of people commemorate the Battle of Karbala during the Islamic month of Muharram.
The historical significance of the Battle of Karbala has shaped the religious practices of Shi'a Muslims worldwide.

Synonyms

Battle of Kerbala

vsBattle of Karbala

9.9

A battle in 680 near Karbala, Iraq, where Husayn, Muhammad's grandson, and his followers were killed by Umayyad forces

is the same event but uses the ruling dynasty name not the individual leader

Surface Forms

Battle of Karbala main

Morphology

battle + of + Karbala

The phrase is fully compositional: 'battle' + 'of' + 'Karbala' straightforwardly signals a battle that took place at Karbala, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer it refers to a conflict at that location. They would not, however, be expected to know the specific historical date or religious significance from the wording alone.

Etymology

Battle of Karbala is the name of a real fight in 680 CE near the town of Karbala where Husayn ibn Ali and his followers were killed by a larger army. The strong image of their death and sacrifice made the name something people 'remember' each year, so today it stands for that historic event and its religious meaning for many Shi'a Muslims.