Najaf: Land of Shia Scholarship, Cradle of Islamic Civilization

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Since a thousand years ago, the holy city of Najaf has been the land of Shia scholarship, a sanctuary for the followers of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) and a place in which prominent Shia figures and sources of emulation were trained.  Its civilization-making status has been maintained until this day and marks of the great Islamic civilization are seen all over the city.  Najaf, which is the capital of Najaf city, is one of the most sacred places in Iraq. It was selected as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in a 2008 meeting of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan.  Meaning of Najaf  In the book “Sahah” by Al-Juhari, Najaf has been defined as an elevated place where water can not go. Among Arab speakers, Najfa (from which Najaf has been derived) refers to high places like hills. According to Al-Azhari, Najfa is a high place behind the city of Kufa which prevents floods from reaching Kufa and its cemetery.  Other Names of Najaf  The city of Najaf has other names which are less known. Some of these names mentioned in historical texts include: Qari or Qarian, Mashhad, At-Tur, At-Tahr, Al-Judi, Al-Rabwa, Banqia, and Al-Lisan.  According to some historical accounts, Noah’s (AS) Ark landed on this place and Noah’s children settled here and then spread around the world. Prophet Abraham’s (AS) has also been reported to have lived here.  Geographical Status of Najaf  Najaf is the capital of Najaf province. It is located at the center of Iraq, 160 kilometers south west of Baghdad. The province borders Saudi Arabia in the south. It also has borders with the provinces of Wasit Babil and Karbala (north), Al-Qadisiyyah and Al-Muthanna (east), and Al-Anbar (west).  The population of Najaf province is more than 950,000 based on the statistics of the Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Commerce released in 2003. The province’s area is 28824 square meters and its population is mostly concentrated in the three big cities in the north, especially Najaf. A road that passes through the city links Mosul in the north to the holy city of Madinah in Saudi Arabia.  Najaf is so close to the city of Kufa that the two can be regarded as one city.  Imam Ali (AS) Mausoleum  The mausoleum of Imam Ali (AS) is the main pilgrimage site in Najaf and the reason for its reputation and significance. Apart from the holy shrine of Imam Ali (AS), the graves of Adam (AS) and Prophet Noah (AS) are located in the mausoleum. There are also the graves of over 40 great Shia figures like Muqaddas Ardebili, Sheikh Abbas Qomi, Seyeyd Abolhassan Esfehani, Sheikh Ansari, Allameh Helli, and Seyyed Mostafa Khomeini, as well as a number of Shia kings. The holy mausoleum is located in the western part of Najaf.  The building of the mausoleum dates back to the time of Iranian King Shah Safiyeddin Safavi. The mausoleum is a 13 by 13 meter square-shaped building. There is a large golden dome which stands out of a square-shaped ornate structure at the two sides of which are two minarets. It has various gates (Baabs) such as Tusi, Muslim ibn Aghil, Imam Reza (AS), Suq al-Kabir, As-Sa’a, Al-faraj and As-Sultani. A courtyard, named after Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (SA), is being built in the western part of the building. It measures 130 by 370 meters.  Najaf Seminary  The seminary of Najaf has been among the most important in the Shia world since its establishment. Many of the great scientific figures of the Shia worlds have studied and taught in Najaf seminary. They include Sheikh Jafar Kashef-ul-Qata, Allameh Bahrul Ulum, Sheikh Muhammad Hassan Najafi, Mulla Muhammad Kazem Khorasani, Ibn Idris Helli, Mirza Shirazi, Mulla Ahmad Naraqi, Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Hassan Ashtiani, Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi, grand Ayatollah Borujerdi, Allameh Tabatabaee, Seyyed Sharafeddin Ameli, and Imam Khomeini.  Najaf: Cultural Capital of the Islamic World  The city of Najaf was selected as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in a 2008 meeting of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to Iraqi Culture Minister Hakem Al-Shimri, the ministry submitted it request for naming the city as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in a 2007 meeting of Arab countries’ culture ministers and the request was initially approved in that meeting.  He says Najaf has been selected due to various assets it has including the holy mausoleum of Imam Ali (AS), religious and historical heritage, etc.  The selection of Najaf as the cultural capital of the Islamic world is an opportunity for clarifying the true status of Imam Ali (AS), a great figure who has inspired men and whose virtues have attracted hearts of men, and it is necessary to introduce his virtues to the world./129