Bayn-al-Nahrayn

Bayn al-Naḥrayn (Arabic: بين النَهرَين) or Mesopotamia is a vast plain, the two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates pass through it. This region has been the cradle of great ancient civilizations.

Geography of Mesopotamia

From Taurus mountains in Turkey, two rivers spring which previously had other names, but today they are known as Tigris and Euphrates and join in al-Qurnah, Iraq; and after that point, they are called Shatt al-Arab. Shatt al-Arab flows south to the border of Iran and forms the water border between Iran and Iraq down to Khorramshahr where Karun River and Shat al-'Arab join and form Arvand River. Arvand River continues its way and flows to the Persian Gulf after the island comprised of the two cities of Abadan in Iran and Fav in Iraq.

Mesopotamia does not only refer to the land between the two rivers but also includes the land that the two rivers flow in and different branches branch off from them down to the place where they flow to the Persian Gulf. It is bordered on the plateau of Iran in the East, on the desert of Syria in the West, on Anatolia plateau in the north and on the Persian Gulf in the south.

The northern part of this plain is called "al-Jazira" [island] which is dry and was the ancient land of Ashur. South of it, Iraq or "al-Sawad" is located which is fertile and was the ancient land of Babylon. This region is divided into smaller islands due to the passage of different branches. The family name of some residents in this area is al-Jaza'iri.

Cradle of Ancient Civilizations

Great and ancient civilizations emerged in that region and were lost one after another. These civilizations were formed by different emigrants and native people. Their capitals were city-states, the territories of which sometimes included the whole of Mesopotamia from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. Before Islam, Byzantine and Iran empires held the control of Mesopotamia until Muslims first took Mesopotamia and then conquered Iran.

City-states of al-'Ubaid, Sumer, Uruk, Jemdet Nasr, Babylon, Kish, Ur, Lagash, Akkad, Larsa, Ashur, and Kalda were among most famous cities of Mesopotamia which became the cradles of different civilizations before and after the Great Flood.

Sumerians, Amorites, Akkadians, Hurrians, Gutians, Assyrians, Achaemenids, Elamites, Mitannians, Hattians, Hittites, Chaldeans, Seleucids, Ashkanids (Arsacids) and finally Muslims and in a period, Mongols ruled over this region.

Etana, Gilgamesh, Mesannepada, Ur-Nanshe, Lugal-Zage-Si, Sargon, Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus the Great, and Alexander the Great were among great and influential kings in the history of this region.

Prophets of Mesopotamia

Due to the age of habitation in Mesopotamia, great prophets were born or lived and were chosen for prophethood in this region.

Adam (a)

It is said that Prophet Adam (a) is buried in Najaf, Iraq. Ziyarah texts of Adam (a) has been mentioned in the books of prayer as recommended to be recited over the head of Imam 'Ali's (a) grave. Also, in ziyarah texts of Imam 'Ali (a), it is mentioned, "and peace be upon you and upon your neighbors Adam (a) and Noah (a)."

Idris (a)

It is said that Prophet Idris (a) lived in Babylon and was chosen for prophethood in the region where Kufa is located now. It is transmitted from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that Prophet Idris (a) sewed in the location of the mosque of Sahla.

Noah (a)

One of the most important religious figures of Mesopotamia was Prophet Noah (a). It is said that he is located where Najaf is now located. According to a hadith, Prophet Noah (a) built his Arc in Kufa and the people of Noah had placed idols there. Ziyarah texts of Noah (a) is mentioned in the books of prayer as recommended to be recited over the head of Imam Ali's (a) grave. It is also mentioned in ziyarah texts of Imam 'Ali (a).

Flood of Noah (a)

Main article: Flood of Noah (a)

The most important happening in Mesopotamia was the Great Flood which destroyed previous nations and emerged a new civilization there. Humans and animals which were in the Arc of Noah (a) made the new era of civilizations in Mesopotamia. The event of the Flood is recorded, researched about in historical and archeological studies and is among historical facts.

Hud (a)

The grave of Prophet Hud (a) is in Wadi l-Salam cemetery now located in Najaf.

Salih (a)

The grave of Prophet Salih (a) is in Wadi al-Salam cemetery now located in Najaf.

Abraham (a)

The birth town of Prophet Abraham (a) is considered Babylon (or other cities of Mesopotamia) and it is said that he was chosen as the prophet in this city.

Yunus (a)

In the Bible, Prophet Yunus [Jonah] (a) was the prophet of Nineveh. It is said that he is buried where Kufa is now. Also, there is a grave attributed to him in Mosul which was demolished by ISIS.

Dhu l-Kifl (a)

It is said that Prophet Dhu l-Kifl (a) (Ezekiel) is buried somewhere between Kufa and Hilla.

'Uzayr (a)

It is mentioned in historical sources that the grave of Prophet 'Uzayr (a) (Ezra) is in a village between Basra and Wasit and has been revered by Jews.

After Islam

In the Battle of al-Qadisiyya, the Second Caliph conquered Mesopotamia, which was in the hands of Iranians; and since then, it was called 'Iraq of Arabs opposite to 'Iraq of 'Ajam [non-Arabs] (Arak). Since then, gradually Iraq became the center for the caliphate and Islamic territory and the cities of Kufa and Baghdad became the capitals of the Islamic world in the first era and the time of Abbasids. Mongols too conquered Baghdad and later Ottomans ruled over Mesopotamia for a long time until the modern era, after the World Wars, the British government took the control of Iraq and finally the Republic of Iraq was established in this historical region.

For Shi'as

After Mesopotamia was conquered at the time of the Second Caliph and was named 'Iraq of Arabs, Kufa in the center of Iraq became the capital of the World of Islam in 36/656-57 during the rule of Imam 'Ali (a). He (a) was buried in Najaf after he (a) was martyred. Due to the presence of Imam 'Ali (a) and his followers in Kufa, it is considered a Shi'a city.

Most 'Arab tribes who resided in Kufa during the expansion of the Islamic territory were from Yemen and most Yemeni tribes, especially Hamdan were Shi'a. Also, based on Islamic sources, Tay was one of the most powerful tribes who supported Imam 'Ali (a) in the battles of Jamal and Siffin at the beginning of the establishment of Kufa. Also, al-Ash'ari families who were Shi'a of Imam 'Ali (a) originally from Yemen were among the tribes who emigrated to Kufa.

Imam al-Hasan (a) too lived in Kufa and for a short time was the caliph. In the Battle of Karbala, Imam al-Husayn (a) was martyred in Iraq and was buried where the city of Karbala is located.

According to historical sources, Imam al-Sadiq (a) was summoned to Iraq in the first years of Abbasid government and lived in Kufa for a while; when he (a) used the opportunity to teach and explain Islamic teachings and fight with the beliefs of exaggerators.

Imam Musa al-Kazim (a) and Imam al-Jawad (a) are buried where the city of Kadhimiya is located now, and Imam al-Hadi (a) and Imam al-'Askari (a) were buried in Samarra.

Most Shi'a live in the south of Iraq and have an important role and position in the government after the fall of Saddam. Today, Procession of Arba'in and visiting al-'Atabat al-Muqaddasa have made Mesopotamia the cross point for different cultures and people once again.

Imams (a) Presence in Bayn al-Nahrayn

Imam	Presence in Bayn al-Nahrayn	Events is Iraq
Imam 'Ali (a)	Kufa (after the Battle of Jamal)	Battle of Jamal Battle of Siffin Battle of Nahrawan
Imam al-Hasan (a)	Kufa (until the peace treaty with Mu'awiya)	Peace treaty with Mu'awiya
Imam al-Husayn (a)	Kufa (until the peace treaty with Mu'awiya) Karbala (In the Battle of Karbala)	Battle of Karbala
Imam al-Sajjad (a)	Karbala (In the Battle of Karbala) Kufa (During the captivity)	Battle of Karbala
Imam al-Baqir (a)	Karbala (In the Battle of Karbala)	Battle of Karbala
Imam al-Sadiq (a)	Kufa
Imam al-Kazim (a)	Baghdad (Prisoner)
Imam al-Rida (a)
Imam al-Jawad (a)	Baghdad (In the last year of his (a) life)
Imam al-Hadi (a)	Samarra (From 233/838 until the time of his (a) martydom)
Imam al-'Askari	Samarra, He was summoned there with his father
Imam al-Mahdi	Samarra, He was born there.