Najaf

Najaf (Arabic: النجف‎; BGN: An Najaf) is a city in Iraq about 160 km (roughly 100 miles) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2013 was 1.000.000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate. It is widely considered the third holiest city of Shi'a Islam, the Shia world’s spiritual capital and the center of Shi'a political power in Iraq. The city is home to the Imam Ali Shrine, and hosts millions of pilgrims yearly.

Religious significance

Najaf is considered sacred by both Shi'a and Sunni Muslims. Najaf is renowned as the site of the tomb of Alī ibn Abī Tālib also known as "Imām Alī", the First Imam of the Shiites, the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, whom the Shi'a consider to be the righteous caliph. Sunnis consider Ali the fourth Rashidun (rightly guided Caliphs). The city is now a center of pilgrimage from throughout the Shi'a Islamic world. It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. As the burial site of Shi'a Islam's second most important figure, the Imam Ali Mosque is considered by Shiites as the third holiest Islamic site.

Najaf (disambiguation)

Najaf is a city in Iraq.

Najaf may also refer to:

Places

Places in Iraq

Elsewhere

People

Sport

Transport

Other uses