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Najaf: Difference between revisions
Hannana mosque added + some broken links corrected
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[[File:The aerial view of the holy shrine of Imam Ali.jpg|thumbnail|Aerial view of Najaf and the | [[File:The aerial view of the holy shrine of Imam Ali.jpg|thumbnail|Aerial view of Najaf and the Holy Shrine of Imam 'Ali (a), the Wadi l-Salam Cemetery is visible at the top right.]] | ||
'''Najaf''' (Arabic: النَّجَف) is a city in [[Iraq]]. It was inhabited before Islam. Najaf is very important because it is the place of the [[ | '''Najaf''' (Arabic: {{ia|النَّجَف}}) is a city in [[Iraq]]. It was inhabited before Islam. Najaf is very important because it is the place of the [[Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (a)]] and [[Hawzat al-'Ilmiyya of Najaf]] (the Islamic Seminary of Najaf). Currently, the city has gained more importance due to the [[Marja']]s who live in this city and are influential in the political structure of power in Iraq. | ||
==Geographical Location== | ==Geographical Location== | ||
Najaf is located 165 km southwest of [[Baghdad]], 77 km southeast of [[Karbala]] and 10 km south of [[Kufa]]. Existence of the ancient city of Hira, which held of the bright civilization in the history of Iraq, in that region indicates the historical background of it. Najaf is bordered by [[Wadi l-Salam | Najaf is located 165 km southwest of [[Baghdad]], 77 km southeast of [[Karbala]] and 10 km south of [[Kufa]]. Existence of the ancient city of Hira, which held of the bright civilization in the history of Iraq, in that region indicates the historical background of it. Najaf is bordered by [[Wadi l-Salam Cemetery]] form north, dried sea of Najaf form west and a desert connected to Badiyat al-Sham, which stretches to [[Arabia]], [[Jordan]] and [[Syria]], form west. | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
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* [[Shah 'Abbas]] tried to revive the scholarly centrality of Najaf and to thrive its al-Hawza al-'Ilmiyya. Even in his negotiations with Ottoman, he wanted to conjoin Najaf to Iran; but the Ottoman vizier told him "For us, stones of Najaf is equal to one thousand people." | * [[Shah 'Abbas]] tried to revive the scholarly centrality of Najaf and to thrive its al-Hawza al-'Ilmiyya. Even in his negotiations with Ottoman, he wanted to conjoin Najaf to Iran; but the Ottoman vizier told him "For us, stones of Najaf is equal to one thousand people." | ||
This centrality revived again by arrival of Mulla Ahamad Ardabily, famously known as Muqaddas Ardabily, and his teaching sessions. | This centrality revived again by arrival of Mulla Ahamad Ardabily, famously known as Muqaddas Ardabily, and his teaching sessions. | ||
* In 12th/18th century, as [[Wahid Bihbahani]] moved from Najaf to [[Karbala]], seminary of Najaf lost its prosperity. However, it gained its centrality in 13th/19th century due to the existence of great scholars such as [[Kashif al-Ghita']], [[Bahr al-'Ulum]], and [[Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari]]. | * In 12th/18th century, as [[Wahid Bihbahani]] moved from Najaf to [[Karbala]], seminary of Najaf lost its prosperity. However, it gained its centrality in 13th/19th century due to the existence of great scholars such as [[Ja'far Kashif al-Ghita'|Kashif al-Ghita']], [[Bahr al-'Ulum]], and [[Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari]]. | ||
* During the Iranian constitutional revolution, [[mujtahid]]s in Najaf, such as [[Akhud al-Khurasani]] and [[Mirza Na'ini]], led and supported the revolutionists intellectually and religiously. | * During the Iranian constitutional revolution, [[mujtahid]]s in Najaf, such as [[Akhund Khurasani|Akhud al-Khurasani]] and [[Muhammad Husayn Na'ini|Mirza Na'ini]], led and supported the revolutionists intellectually and religiously. | ||
* During the Ba'th regime, al-Hawzat al-'Ilmiyya of Najaf was under a lot of pressure; nonetheless, it managed to continue its path. Nowadays it is regarded as one of the scholarly Shi'a centers in the world. | * During the Ba'th regime, al-Hawzat al-'Ilmiyya of Najaf was under a lot of pressure; nonetheless, it managed to continue its path. Nowadays it is regarded as one of the scholarly Shi'a centers in the world. | ||
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===Scholars=== | ===Scholars=== | ||
Some great Shi'a scholars who are entombed in Najaf are: | Some great Shi'a scholars who are entombed in Najaf are: | ||
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* [[Al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]: His tomb is located in "Shari' al-Tusi" (al-Tusi street) next to "Bab al-Tusi" (al-Tusi gate) of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | * [[Al-Shaykh al-Tusi]]: His tomb is located in "Shari' al-Tusi" (al-Tusi street) next to "Bab al-Tusi" (al-Tusi gate) of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | ||
* [[Al-'Allama al-Hilli]]: He is entombed in a room in the golden Iwan of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | * [[Al-'Allama al-Hilli]]: He is entombed in a room in the golden Iwan of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | ||
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* [[Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum]]: Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi al-Tabataba'i, known as Bahr al-'Ulum, and some of his descendants are buried next to the tomb of al-Shaykh al-Tusi. | * [[Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum]]: Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi al-Tabataba'i, known as Bahr al-'Ulum, and some of his descendants are buried next to the tomb of al-Shaykh al-Tusi. | ||
* [[Al-Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari]]: He is entombed in the corridor of "Bab al-Qibla" ([[Qibla]] gate), which is located in the south of the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | * [[Al-Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari]]: He is entombed in the corridor of "Bab al-Qibla" ([[Qibla]] gate), which is located in the south of the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | ||
* [[Mulla Mahdi al-Naraqi]] and his son, [[Mulla Ahmad | * [[Mulla Mahdi al-Naraqi]] and his son, [[Mulla Ahmad Naraqi|Mulla Ahamd]]: They are entombed next to the big northern Iwan of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a), | ||
* [[Mirza Shirazi]]: Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi -the son of Mirza Mahmud- who is known by his famous fatwa about forbidding tobacco, is entombed in a room out of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a) on the east of Bab al-Tusi, | * [[Mirza Shirazi]]: Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi -the son of Mirza Mahmud- who is known by his famous fatwa about forbidding tobacco, is entombed in a room out of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a) on the east of Bab al-Tusi, | ||
* [[Mirza Husayn Nuri]]: He is buried in the third eastern Iwan from Bab al-Qibla in the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a), | * [[Mirza Husayn Nuri]]: He is buried in the third eastern Iwan from Bab al-Qibla in the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a), | ||
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* [[Sayyid Mustafa Khomeini]], the son of [[Imam Khomeini]], | * [[Sayyid Mustafa Khomeini]], the son of [[Imam Khomeini]], | ||
* [[Al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr]], buried in Wadi l-Salam. | * [[Al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr]], buried in Wadi l-Salam. | ||
{{end}} | |||
===Rulers and Statesmen=== | ===Rulers and Statesmen=== | ||
* 'Adud al-Dawla al-Daylami one of the greatest rulers of [[ | * 'Adud al-Dawla al-Daylami one of the greatest rulers of [[Buyids]] | ||
* Al Hamdan were Shi'a rulers in the 5th/11th and 6th/12th centuries in Levant. They played a significant rule in the movement of resistance and fighting against the invasion of Byzantine forces. Sayf al-Dawlat al-Hamdani and Nasir al-Dawla are two famous rulers of this dynasty. According to Shaykh Ali Al Kashif al-Ghita', Al Hamdan transferred the dead form Damascus, Aleppo and Mosul to Najaf and buried them there. | * Al Hamdan were Shi'a rulers in the 5th/11th and 6th/12th centuries in Levant. They played a significant rule in the movement of resistance and fighting against the invasion of Byzantine forces. Sayf al-Dawlat al-Hamdani and Nasir al-Dawla are two famous rulers of this dynasty. According to Shaykh Ali Al Kashif al-Ghita', Al Hamdan transferred the dead form Damascus, Aleppo and Mosul to Najaf and buried them there. | ||
* Mongol Ilkhanate is one of the Shi'a governments in Iran who also ruled in Iraq in the 8th/14th and 9th/15th centuries. Some rulers and statesmen of Ilkhanate, Jalayirid and Timurid were buried in the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a); but the exact location of their grave is unknown. Hibat al-Din al-Shahristani reported that he had seen the grave of Timur the Lame, the founder of Timurid dynasty, next to the tomb of al-Shaykh al-Tusi in the Sardab (hypogeum). | * Mongol Ilkhanate is one of the Shi'a governments in Iran who also ruled in Iraq in the 8th/14th and 9th/15th centuries. Some rulers and statesmen of Ilkhanate, Jalayirid and Timurid were buried in the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a); but the exact location of their grave is unknown. Hibat al-Din al-Shahristani reported that he had seen the grave of Timur the Lame, the founder of Timurid dynasty, next to the tomb of al-Shaykh al-Tusi in the Sardab (hypogeum). | ||
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* Aqa Khan Mahallati, the leader of Isma'ilism. | * Aqa Khan Mahallati, the leader of Isma'ilism. | ||
== | ==Mosques== | ||
There are many mosques in Najaf, some of which are very important: | There are many mosques in Najaf, some of which are very important: | ||
* [[Masjid al-Hannana]]: It is narrated that the site of this mosque lamented for the Ahl al-Bayt (a) two times: when the coffin of Imam 'Ali (a) was being carried and after the incident of Karbala. That is why it has been given the name Hannana ("The Lamenting"). | |||
* Masjid al-Shaykh al-Tusi: At beginning it was his house. He made this will to bury him in this place and change it to a mosque. Nowadays this mosque is very well-known in Najaf. It is located in "al-Mishraq" neighborhood on the north of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | * Masjid al-Shaykh al-Tusi: At beginning it was his house. He made this will to bury him in this place and change it to a mosque. Nowadays this mosque is very well-known in Najaf. It is located in "al-Mishraq" neighborhood on the north of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a). | ||
* Masjid al-Hindi: It is one of the biggest mosque in Najaf. It was reconstructed in [[1323]]/1905-1906, and has a strong and solid construction. Mourning sessions of [[Muharram]] are held in this mosque every year. Al-'Allama al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim developed its building in the current century. | * Masjid al-Hindi: It is one of the biggest mosque in Najaf. It was reconstructed in [[1323]]/1905-1906, and has a strong and solid construction. Mourning sessions of [[Muharram]] are held in this mosque every year. Al-'Allama al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim developed its building in the current century. | ||
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==Schools== | ==Schools== | ||
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* Madrasat Miqdad al-Suywuri: built in the second half of 9th/15th century, is one of the very old and famous schools in Najaf. | * Madrasat Miqdad al-Suywuri: built in the second half of 9th/15th century, is one of the very old and famous schools in Najaf. | ||
* Madrasat Mulla 'Abd Allah: built in the second half of the 10th/16th century by Mulla 'Abd Allah al-Yazdi who was a great scholar and "[[Naqib]]" of Najaf. | * Madrasat Mulla 'Abd Allah: built in the second half of the 10th/16th century by Mulla 'Abd Allah al-Yazdi who was a great scholar and "[[Naqib]]" of Najaf. | ||
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Some other schools in Najaf are: al-Tahiriyya, Rahbawi, Jawharji, 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Baghdadi, Kalbasi, 'Alawiyya, Murtadawiyya and Muntada al-Nashr. | Some other schools in Najaf are: al-Tahiriyya, Rahbawi, Jawharji, 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Baghdadi, Kalbasi, 'Alawiyya, Murtadawiyya and Muntada al-Nashr. | ||
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==Libraries== | ==Libraries== | ||
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* Maktabat al-'Alawi ('Alawi library): It is also called "al-Haydariyya", "al-Khizanat al-Gharawiyya", and "Maktabat al-Sahn." It was founded in 4th/10th century or earlier. 'Adud al-Dawla al-Daylami played an important role in foundation and development of this library. In [[755]]/1345-1355 the library caught fire; many books including a handwritten 3-volume Qur'an by Imam Ali (a) burned away. However, by the effort of the scholars, the library was revived again. But afterward, due to inattention, the library lost its importance and many of its book were lost or damaged. Nowadays, except for very few books, nothing has remained from that precious repository. | * Maktabat al-'Alawi ('Alawi library): It is also called "al-Haydariyya", "al-Khizanat al-Gharawiyya", and "Maktabat al-Sahn." It was founded in 4th/10th century or earlier. 'Adud al-Dawla al-Daylami played an important role in foundation and development of this library. In [[755]]/1345-1355 the library caught fire; many books including a handwritten 3-volume Qur'an by Imam Ali (a) burned away. However, by the effort of the scholars, the library was revived again. But afterward, due to inattention, the library lost its importance and many of its book were lost or damaged. Nowadays, except for very few books, nothing has remained from that precious repository. | ||
* Maktabat al-Imam Amir al-Mu'minin (a): was founded by the effort of [['Allama Amini]] and was opened in [[Eid al-Ghadir]] [[1373]]/1954. It is one of the richest and most reliable libraries in Najaf. | * Maktabat al-Imam Amir al-Mu'minin (a): was founded by the effort of [['Allama Amini]] and was opened in [[Eid al-Ghadir]] [[1373]]/1954. It is one of the richest and most reliable libraries in Najaf. | ||
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* Maktabat Madrasat al-Sadr: This library was founded in the early 13th/19th century by Muhammad Husayn Khan Sadr. It was one of the most famous libraries in Najaf at that time; but due to inattentions many of its books were disappeared. Nowadays, this library is not noteworthy. | * Maktabat Madrasat al-Sadr: This library was founded in the early 13th/19th century by Muhammad Husayn Khan Sadr. It was one of the most famous libraries in Najaf at that time; but due to inattentions many of its books were disappeared. Nowadays, this library is not noteworthy. | ||
* Maktabat al-Imam al-Hasan (a): This library, which has a beautiful building, is located at the end of "Shari' al-Rasul". It was founded by al-Shaykh Baqir al-Sharif al-Qurashi. | * Maktabat al-Imam al-Hasan (a): This library, which has a beautiful building, is located at the end of "Shari' al-Rasul". It was founded by al-Shaykh Baqir al-Sharif al-Qurashi. | ||
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Other important libraries in Najaf are: Maktabat al-'Allama Shyakh Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita', Maktabat Madrasat al-Qawam, Maktabat Madrasat Akhund Khurasani, Maktabat Madrasat al-Khalili, Maktabat Madrasat Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Yazdi and Maktabat Ayatollah Burujirdi. | Other important libraries in Najaf are: Maktabat al-'Allama Shyakh Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita', Maktabat Madrasat al-Qawam, Maktabat Madrasat Akhund Khurasani, Maktabat Madrasat al-Khalili, Maktabat Madrasat Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Yazdi and Maktabat Ayatollah Burujirdi. | ||