The shrine of Imam Ali
Pilgrimage and scholarship
Najaf is revered as the burial place of Imam Ali and developed into a major centre of pilgrimage and religious scholarship. Its shrine was enlarged and adorned under successive patrons. The history of the site includes devotional traditions as well as evidence about buildings, endowments and scholarly life.
Using the map
The marker identifies the present shrine in Najaf. It does not establish every traditional story about the site or the age of every part of the building. Read the historical sources alongside the biography of Imam Ali, and distinguish a community’s sacred memory from an archaeological conclusion.
Explore the map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The marker is an approximate modern landmark location. The map loads from OpenStreetMap; its labels and map data are maintained by that service. It is not a historical boundary map.
Sources and further reading
Encyclopaedia Iranica — the shrine cities of Iraq
Coordinate reference — Imam Ali Shrine