Imam Ali Mosque
| Shrine of Imam Ali | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Basic information | |
| Location |
Najaf,  Iraq
|
| Geographic coordinates | 31°59′46″N 44°18′51″E / 31.996111°N 44.314167°ECoordinates: 31°59′46″N 44°18′51″E / 31.996111°N 44.314167°E |
| Affiliation | Shia Islam |
| Completed | 977 |
The Imām 'Alī Holy Shrine (Arabic: حرم الإمام علي), also known as Masjid Ali or the Mosque of 'Alī, located in Najaf, Iraq, is the Holy site for Shia Muslims . 'Alī ibn Abī Tālib, the cousin of Muhammad, the first Imam (according to Shia belief) and fourth caliph (according to Sunni belief) is buried here. According to Shi'a belief, buried next to Ali within this mosque are the remains of Adam and Noah. Each year millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine and pay tribute to Imam Ali.
The mosque was first built by the Buyid shahanshah 'Adud al-Dawla in 977 over the tomb of Ali. After being destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt by the Seljuk Malik Shah I in 1086, and rebuilt yet again by the Safavid Shah Ismail I shortly after 1500.
During the uprising of March 1991, following the Persian Gulf War, Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards damaged the shrine, where members of the Shia opposition were cornered, in storming the shrine and massacring virtually all its occupants. Afterwards the shrine was closed for two years, officially for repairs. Saddam Hussein also deported to Iran a large number of the residents of the area who were of Iranian descent.
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