Before the land where our Imam Ali rests was called Najaf, it was occupied by Mount Judi, the mountain Prophet Noah’s ark rested on, and also the mountain where one of the sons of Noah tried to save himself from the flood after refusing to enter the ark. He said that he would sit on that mountain until he would see the water; therefore, a revelation came to the mountain, “Do you undertake to protect this son of mine from punishment?” And all at once, the mountain fell to pieces, and the son of Noah was drowned.”
In place of that mountain, a large river ran, but a few years later it dried out, and the place was then called Nay-Jaff meaning The Dried River.
In place of that mountain, a large river ran, but a few years later it dried out, and the place was then called Nay-Jaff meaning The Dried River.
Souls in Najaf
The holy land of Najaf is the resting place of not just Imam Ali, but Prophets Adam and Noah too. Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq said, “If you visit the side of Al-Ghary, also visit the bones of Adam, the carcass of Noah, and the body of Ali Ibn Abu Talib.”
It was also dwelled by Prophets Abraham and Isaac. Before their arrival, there had been many earthquakes in the vicinity, but while they remained there they stopped. The people of Najaf were eager for the prophets to live there, and Prophet Abraham agreed on the condition that he would be sold a valley behind the village for cultivation. His son Isaac protested that the land was not fit for farming, but Abraham insisted and assured him that there will come a time when that land will be a cemetery with a shrine, at which 70,000 people will gain undisputed entrance to Paradise and ability to intercede for many others.
This valley is called Wadi-us-Salaam, or The Valley of Peace, and was described by Imam Ali to be a piece of heaven and that there is not a single believer, whether he dies East or West, but his soul will come to this paradise to rest. Imam Ali went on to say, “As there is nothing hidden in this world from my eyes, I see all the believers seated- here in groups and talking with one another.”
The holy land of Najaf is the resting place of not just Imam Ali, but Prophets Adam and Noah too. Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq said, “If you visit the side of Al-Ghary, also visit the bones of Adam, the carcass of Noah, and the body of Ali Ibn Abu Talib.”
It was also dwelled by Prophets Abraham and Isaac. Before their arrival, there had been many earthquakes in the vicinity, but while they remained there they stopped. The people of Najaf were eager for the prophets to live there, and Prophet Abraham agreed on the condition that he would be sold a valley behind the village for cultivation. His son Isaac protested that the land was not fit for farming, but Abraham insisted and assured him that there will come a time when that land will be a cemetery with a shrine, at which 70,000 people will gain undisputed entrance to Paradise and ability to intercede for many others.
This valley is called Wadi-us-Salaam, or The Valley of Peace, and was described by Imam Ali to be a piece of heaven and that there is not a single believer, whether he dies East or West, but his soul will come to this paradise to rest. Imam Ali went on to say, “As there is nothing hidden in this world from my eyes, I see all the believers seated- here in groups and talking with one another.”
A bird's-eye view of Wadi-us-Salaam, centered by Imam Ali's holy shrine.
Wadi-us-Salaam, The Valley of Peace. About 6 million graves reside in the 9.17 square kilometer cemetery.
Sources:
https://en.shafaqna.com/58287/history-shrine-imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-peace-upon/
Majlisi op. cit. pages 108, 111
Images:
https://paintingvalley.com/download-image#noah-and-the-ark-painting-6.jpg
https://imgur.com/tCqo1EK
https://guff.com/this-desert-city-looks-normal-from-overhead-but-if-you-zoom-in
https://en.shafaqna.com/58287/history-shrine-imam-ali-ibn-abi-talib-peace-upon/
Majlisi op. cit. pages 108, 111
Images:
https://paintingvalley.com/download-image#noah-and-the-ark-painting-6.jpg
https://imgur.com/tCqo1EK
https://guff.com/this-desert-city-looks-normal-from-overhead-but-if-you-zoom-in
