Situated on the western bank of Baghdad, the complex, known as al-Kadhimain, spread around the tombs of Musa al-Kadhim (d. 183/799) and his grandson, Muhammad al-Jawad (d. 220/835), and gave its name to the district.

Musa al-Kadhim Complex consists of two-storey vaulted cells, which include a madrasa, imaret, imam-sheikh chambers and libraries lined around a large courtyard with a mausoleum and mosque.

The buildings that surround the courtyard of the mausoleum and mosque is composed of a madrasa, khanqah, library and rooms used by Shiite elders.