Najaf, Religious capital in central Iraq.
Najaf is a city in Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, positioned west of the Euphrates on a low ridge. The settlement spreads around the golden dome of the Imam Ali Mosque, which serves as the central point of the city.
The settlement emerged in the late eighth century under Caliph Harun al-Rashid as a pilgrimage site for Ali ibn Abi Talib. The community grew over the centuries into a center for Shia scholarship, drawing students and pilgrims from across the Islamic world.
The Hawza of Najaf functions as the principal Shia Islamic seminary, educating religious scholars and maintaining traditional theological studies for over ten centuries.
Summer months bring very high temperatures, while winter remains milder with occasional rain. Visitors should plan walks through the city during cooler hours and carry water.
The Wadi al-Salam cemetery covers more than 600 hectares and ranks among the largest burial grounds worldwide. Families from across Iraq and other countries bring their deceased here because proximity to the shrine of Ali is considered spiritually meaningful.
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