Wadi l-Salam Cemetery (Najaf): Difference between revisions

'''Wādī al-Salām''' (وادي السلام) is an extensive historic cemetery, situated in [[Najaf]], a city of [[Iraq]]. It is of immense importance for shi’as due to many Hadithes regarding its significance. On the basis of some Hadithes, the cemetery is where some of the [[prophet|prophets]] and great virtuous men return after their death (Raj’at), and any pious man’s spirit who passes away in any spot of the world will come to this cemetery. Its location in Najaf has raised its importance because of Imam Ali’s holy shrine being there. Many pilgrims of [[Atabat al-Aliyat]] (The holy shrine of Imams (a)) visit this area beside visiting other sacred places. Furthermore, a lot of religious, political, and social figures of shi’a have been buried there.

The word Wadi means a narrow area of land, prone to torrent, between two mountains, where the flood goes through and dwindles gradually. The word al-salam is one of Allah’s name, denoting protection from inner and outer harms and dangers in Arabic language.

Wadi al-salam is located in Najaf, a city of Iraq. Imam Ali(a)’s holy shrine and a street named Ali ibni abitalib are situated in the south of it. It meets the road between Najaf and Karbala from the East, Hay al-muhandisin region from the North, and former sea of Najaf from the West.

According to Hadithes, the background of this cemetery goes back to pre-Islamic era. There are not many historical proofs of its state before Islam; nevertheless, it appears that this place has been a cemetery since long time ago. Some Hadithes have extended its background to the time when the angels prostrated for Adam, as in a Hadith said to be from Imam Ali (a). On the basis of some Hadithes, some of the prophets have been buried in wadi al-salam. As Majlisi narrated from Ayyashi, this spot has been a place for Adam’s prayer and some of other prophet’s coming after him.

One of the reasons to the importance of this cemetery is its proximity to Imam Ali’s (a) holy shrine. In addition, it has been indicated and admired frequently in shi’a references. It appears the earliest Hadith about it is one narrated by Kuleini (258-328 AH), said to be from Imam Ali (a). Subsequent references have narrated this Hadith numerously. In this Hadith, Imam Ali (a), accompanied with one of his companions, goes to wadi al-salam and uttered: “No pious man passes away on any part of the earth unless his spirit is ordered to come to wadi al-salam. Here, is a part of Heaven.”

Majlisi al-thani (second Majlisi) has narrated that the prophet of Islam, along with Gabriel, went to wadi al-salam and performed prayer in Ascension Night. According to this narration, wadi al-salam has been a place of prayer for Adam and other prophets. Moreover, this is the first area of earth in which God was worshiped, as Hadithes witness. There are some Hadithes about Imam Ali’s (a) interest in Najaf and wadi al-salam and his willingness to be buried in this city and in this cemetery. In particular, in a Hadith, Imam Ali (a) asks God to be buried in wadi al-salam cemetery.

Aside from the graves of the cemetery, some constructions have been built that have always been at the center of attention for shi’a pilgrims. Some constructions, made to respect for great men at their tombs, are so valuable in the aspect of religion, history, and art. Such as:

According to some Hadithes, two prophet’s tombs, Hud (a) and Salih (a), are situated in wadi al-salam. In fact, there are two tombs said to belong to these two prophets. Initially, with Allamih Bahro l-olum’s attempt, a dome and a construction composed of chalk and stone, were built. The construction was renovated with the aid of an Iranian benefactor, and the dome was ornamented with beautiful tiles in 1337 AH.

The construction has been built thanks to Allamih Bahru l-olum’s efforts. A person by the name of Sayyid Muhammad Khan refurbished it in 1370 AH, and it has maintained its state until today. He, also, made a dome with blue tiles above the construction.

There is a stone in there on which Imam Mahdi’s Ziyarat (a blessing prayer for a Imam) is incised. Its date goes back to the year 1200 AH. There has been narrated from Imam Sadiq (a) that:

“Anyone who visits my ancestor’s tomb, should recite a prayer of two units, and again a two-unit one, and then another two units of prayer. The first prayer should be performed at the entrance of Imam Ali’s (a) tomb, the second one at Ra‘asul Husain, and the third one at Imam Mahdi’s (a) pulpit (al-minbar)”.

A mosque and a construction have been built in respect of Imam Sajjad’s (a) prayer and staying there. It is located at one kilometer west of Imam Ali’s (a) holy shrine, beside the lake Bahru l-Najaf at a distance of 250 meters, and adjacent to Safi Safa tomb. The dimensions of this mosque are 15*18. It has a dome, and the walls are decorated with tiles, and there is an altar (mihrab) ascribed to the area where Imam Sajjad (a) said prayers. It is said that when Imam Sajjad (a) came to visit Imam Ali’s tomb in Najaf, he performed his prayer there and stayed for the night.

At the time when Safavid dynasty ruled Iraq, a construction was built in this area which still exists. Around the collapse of Ottoman Empire, it was repaired and a nice stone was put inside the altar, on which Huruf al-muqatta’I (The initial letters of words representing a secret phrase or sentence) are carved. The meaning of these lettersa is not known to anybody.

Many religious, political, and social figures of shi’a have been buried in this cemetery by either their will or their relative’s request. Seemingly, their purpose had been being adjacent to Imam Ali’s (a) holy shrine. Some of shi’a’s figures entombed in this cemetery are:

* Sayyid Ali Ghazi Tabataba’i

* Ra’is Ali Delvari

* Muhammad Husain Kashif al-qit’a

In November of 2012, a news agency by the name of Shafaqna informed about people’s strange manners in this cemetery through a report. Accordingly, some people carve their names on a stone so that their spirit would come to this cemetery after death. They also pick the sole of cemetery as being sacred, or they burry their nails and hairs there. This news agency has called these actions superstitious.