Najaf

Najaf ({{lang-ar|?????}}) is a city in Iraq, about 160 km south of Baghdad, located at 31.99°N 44.33°E. Its estimated population in 2003 was 585,600 people. It is the capital of Najaf province. It is one of the holiest cities of Shi'a Islam and the center of Shi'a political power in Iraq.

Najaf's religious significance

Najaf is renowned as the site of the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib (also known as Imam Ali), who the Shi'a consider to be their founder and first Imam; however, some believe he is buried at Mazar-e Sharif in Afghanistan. The city is now a great center of pilgrimage from throughout the Islamic world. Only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims.

Related Topics:
Ali ibn Abi Talib - Imam Ali - Shi'a - Imam - Mazar-e Sharif - Pilgrimage - Islam - Mecca - Medina

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The Meshed Ali (Tomb of Ali) is housed in a grand structure with a gilded dome and many precious objects in the walls. Nearby is the Wadi-us-Salaam (Valley of Peace), claimed to be the largest cemetery in the Muslim world (and possibly the largest in the entire world), containing the tombs of several other prophets. Many of the devout from other lands aspire to be buried here, to be raise from the dead with Imam Ali on Judgement Day. Over the centuries, numerous hospices, schools, libraries and Sufi convents were built around the shrine to make the city the centre of Shi'a learning and theology. Many of these were badly damaged during the rule of Saddam Hussein, with a highway being driven through the middle of the Wadi-us-Salaam.

Related Topics:
Meshed Ali - Gilded - Wadi-us-Salaam - Cemetery - Judgement Day - Sufi - Saddam Hussein

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Many great Shia scholars both old and contemporary (such as Allameh Tabatabaei, Ayatollah Khomeini, and Ayatollah Sistani) studied in Najaf. This city, along with Qom in Iran, are considered the centers of the Shia schools of faith.

Related Topics:
Allameh Tabatabaei - Ayatollah Khomeini - Ayatollah Sistani - Qom

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