History of Najaf until the end of the Abbasid era

This book is an attempt to study the history of the city of Najaf during the Abbasid era, in the period between 132 AH - 656 AH, and it outlined its aspects in several axes and starting points, in an effort to cover all aspects of the study from the pre-Islamic era until the fall of Baghdad in 656 AH, as well as studying the scientific movement there and its social and economic conditions, taking into account the main factors that contributed to the founding and development of the city of Najaf through its historical stages. Thus, this research came in an introduction, a preamble, and five chapters. The introduction dealt with the geographical location of the city of Najaf as a complementary study to the history of this city, and the impact of location and position on its emergence and development, as well as its relation to the population density, whether increasing or decreasing. The first chapter discussed the history of this city during the pre-Islamic era and the Islamic era (the Rashidun), addressing the historical aspect of the Najaf region in the pre-Islamic period. It also studied Najaf’s connection with Al-Hirah historically. The second chapter was dedicated to studying Najaf during the Rashidun era, covering Najaf’s location in the Arab liberation movements, especially the battles for the liberation of Al-Hirah, the Battle of the Bridge, Buweib, and Qadisiyyah, as well as Najaf’s relation to Kufa. The third chapter focused on the history of the Alawi shrine, beginning with a preamble about the religious factor and its impact on the Islamization of Najaf, discussing in the first section the concealment of the noble tomb and the visits of Imam’s children (may Allah be pleased with him) to their father’s tomb, the Commander of the Faithful, in Najaf during the Umayyad era, as well as discussing the differences among historians regarding the location of the Imam’s (peace be upon him) tomb, emphasizing the existence of his tomb in Najaf, and what has been reported from the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), especially Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), who visited the tomb repeatedly during the Abbasid era and was guided to it by his companions. The second section discussed the construction of the noble shrine during the Abbasid era by caliphs, princes, and sultans, along with narrations about the virtue of visiting Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and those who visited him from caliphs, princes, sultans, and ministers, as well as narrations about the virtue of burial in Najaf and the shrines located there. The fourth chapter examined scientific life in Najaf, its stages, and its development, addressing the scientific life in Najaf before Sheikh Tusi’s arrival, discussing various opinions and arguments, as well as elaborating on the scientific movement in Najaf during Sheikh Tusi’s era, and also studying the scientific movement in Najaf after Sheikh Tusi’s time. The fifth chapter focused on social and economic life, discussing factors of urban development and attracting residents, studying the scholarly families in Najaf, the guardianship of the Holy Shrine, and the Alawi guild. It also covered the stages of urban development in Najaf and their contribution to stabilizing its conditions, efforts to bring water to Najaf, the construction of walls, as well as other aspects of urban development.