Najaf

Najaf is a city in central-southern Iraq and the capital of Najaf Governorate. It lies along the Euphrates River and is one of the country’s oldest continually inhabited urban centers. The city is best known as a holy site for Shia Muslims because it houses the Shrine of Imam Ali, believed by Shia Muslims to be the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia imam and the fourth caliph in Sunni tradition. The Imam Ali Shrine and its surrounding religious precincts attract millions of pilgrims each year, making Najaf a major center of religious tourism in Iraq.

Najaf is also one of the most important centers of Shia Islamic learning. The Hawza of Najaf, a traditional religious seminary, has trained generations of clerics and scholars and hosts visiting students from around the world. The city’s economy is closely tied to religious education and pilgrimage, with commerce and services catering to pilgrims, scholars, and visitors.

Historically, Najaf developed around the shrine and grew under various empires, serving as a political and religious hub in southern Iraq. In the 2000s, the city experienced conflict during the Iraq War and its aftermath but has since continued to function as a religious and educational center. Najaf is served by Najaf International Airport and road connections to Baghdad and other cities.