az- Zubayr

• Location: Iraq

A town which stands on the 7th-century site of Basra, now 8 miles (13 km) to the north-east. It is named after Zubayr ibn al-'Awwām, one of the first converts to Islam, who was instrumental in raising a force to oppose Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's^† son-in-law, in his claim to be caliph. Zubayr was killed at the Battle of the Camels in 658 and is buried here.

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