Najaf
ٱلنَّجَف an-Najaf al-Ashraf, Baniqia | |
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Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, among the holiest sites for Shia Muslims | |
Nickname: al-Ashraf | |
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Coordinates: 32°00′00″N 44°20′00″E / 32.00000°N 44.33333°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Governorate | Najaf |
Founded by | Hārūn al-Rashīd |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor–council |
• Mayor | Yusuf Kinawi |
Elevation | 60 m (200 ft) |
Population | |
• Estimate (2018)[1] | 747,261 |
• Rank | 10th[2] |
• Metro | 988,000 |
Time zone | UTC+3 |
Najaf or An-Najaf or Al-Najaf (Arabic: ٱلنَّجَف) or An-Najaf al-Ashraf (Arabic: ٱلنَّجَف ٱلْأَشْرَف), is the capital city of Najaf Governorate in central Iraq about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people.[1] It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam and one of its spiritual capitals, as well as the center of Shia political power in Iraq.[8] It is he burial place of Muhammad's son in law and cousin, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib. It is a major pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims. The largest cemetery in the world (Wadi-us-Salaam) and the oldest Shi'a Islamic seminary in the world (Hawza of Najaf) are located in Najaf.
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