HISTORY OF THE SHRINE OF IMAM ALI IBNE ABI TALIB (A.S.)

The visit of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) and Ishaaq (a.s.) and Ibrahim's (a.s.) prediction and desire to buy the Valley of Peace

Those who have visited Najaf will remember vividly that to the North and East of the town there are acres of graves and myriads of domes of various colours and at various stages of disrepair. Whoever goes to Najaf will follow a road that approaches the town by a winding course through this vast cemetery. The Prophet Abraham (a.s.) had come to this place along with Ishaaq (a.s.); there had been many earthquakes in the vicinity, but while Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) remained there, there were no tremors. On the night, however, when Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) and Hazrat Ishaaq (a.s.) went to a different village, and sure enough Najaf was visited with another earthquake. When they returned, the people were most eager for them to make Najaf their permanent dwelling-place. Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) agreed to do so on condition that they would sell him the valley behind the village for cultivation. Hazrat Ishaaq (a.s.) protested and said that this land was neither fit for farming nor grazing, but Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) insisted and assured him that the time would come when there would be a tomb there with a shrine, at which seventy thousand people would gain absolutely undisputed entrance to Paradise, and be able also to intercede for many others.

The valley that Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) wanted to buy is called the Valley of Peace (Waadiu's Salaam), and it is related on the authority of the fourth Imam (a.s.) that Ali (a.s.) once said that this ValIey of Peace is part of Heaven and that there is not a single one of the believers in the world, whether he dies in the East or West, but his soul will come to this Paradise to rest.

As there is nothing hidden in this world from my eyes,

Ali (a.s.) went on to say,

I see all the believers seated - here in groups and talking with one another.

How Najaf was given its name is explained in the tradition. At first there was a mountain there, and when one of the sons of Hazrat Nooh (a.s.) refused to enter the Ark, he said that he would sit on this mountain until he would see where the water would come. A revelation came therefore 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 Hazrat Nooh (a.s.) was drowned. In place of the mountain a large river appeared, but after a few years the river dried up, and the place was called Nay-Jaff, meaning, "the dried river."

And so as per the prediction of Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.), Imam Ali (a.s.) was buried here.

Ali (a.s.) is absent today from our midst only physically. His soul even to this day is the greatest spiritual resort for everyone who seeks the help of Allah through his (a.s.) medium. Thousands and thousands of people call out to him in their difficulties, and the word "Ya Ali Madad" automatically comes to them. A famous prayer known as "Naade Ali" (Call Ali) is recited wherever abound the lovers of Ali (a.s.).