Iftar at Khanaqay Byara

Muslims in Byara town in Halabja province break their fast every Iftar at the city's old shrine called Khanaqa in the Hawraman region. 

Byara Khanaqah, located in Byara town of Halabja Governorate, is the home of many Fiqahs and scholars of the Islamic world. It is known as the Azhar of Kurdistan.

A khanqah or khangah, also known as a ribat – among other terms – is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood or tariqa and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation. 

In the past, and to a lesser extent nowadays, they often served as hospices for saliks, Murids and talibs. 

Byara is known for its natural beauty and as a tourist destination. From ancient shrines to picturesque mountain peaks, Byara and surrounding areas offer a unique glimpse of Kurdistan.

Hawraman is a mountainous area of southern Kurdistan that straddles the Iran-Iraq border. The area has distinct dialect, culture, and traditions.


Photo Credit: Shad Ibrahim
PUKmedia