[custom_adv] Najaf is a city in central-south Iraq about 160 km (100 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2013 was 1,000,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate. [custom_adv] Al-Najaf is considered sacred by Muslims. An-Najaf is renowned as the site of the burial place of Muhammad’s son in law and cousin, Imam ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib. The city is now a center of pilgrimage throughout the Shi'ite Islamic world. [custom_adv] It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. As the burial site of Islam's second most important figure, the Imam Ali Mosque is considered by Shiites as the third holiest Islamic site. [custom_adv] The Imam ‘Ali Mosque is housed in a grand structure with a gold gilded dome and many precious objects in the walls. Nearby is the Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery, the largest in the world. [custom_adv] It contains the tombs of several prophets and many of the devout from around the world aspire to be buried there, to be raised from the dead with Imām ‘Alī on Judgement Day. [custom_adv] Over the centuries, numerous hospices, schools, libraries and convents were built around the shrine to make the city the center of learning and theology. [custom_adv] Najaf has a desert climate. This climate is considered to be BWh according to the Köppen climate classification. The average annual temperature is 23.6 °C. The rainfall here averages 97 mm. [custom_adv] It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. As the burial site of Islam's second most important figure, the Imam Ali Mosque is considered by Shiites as the third holiest Islamic site.
