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 in Hadithes ===

In some Hadithes, this cemetery is referred to by the term "beyond Kufah (a city in Iraq)", without mentioning the exact name "wadi al-slam". For instance, the Hadith narrated by Majlisi al-sani (second Majlisi) from Ayyashi : "The first site on earth where God was worshiped was the back of Kufah. When God ordered the angels to prostrate for Adam, they obeyed behind Kufah", said Imam 'Ali (a).

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.

It has been a see-sight for pilgrim Iranian caravans; however, most of the caravans prohibit their members from visiting this cemetery, for the country has been unsafe over the recent years. Being large and extensive and having tall tombs and old rooms, wadi al-salam seems so insecure lately.

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.

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.