Najaf

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/najaf

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Where is Najaf?Central Iraq, 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad
2. How many people live in Najaf?Estimated 1.41 million people (as of 2024)
3. What language do people speak in Najaf?Arabic
4. What is the capital city of?Najaf Governorate
5. What is Najaf known for?Najaf is a holy city in Iraq, especially important to Shia Muslims. It is famous for the Imam Ali shrine, where millions of pilgrims visit each year.
6. Why do so many people visit Najaf?People visit Najaf to see the Imam Ali shrine, study at the Hawza seminary, and walk through the huge Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery.

Shia Islam: A major branch of Islam that follows Ali ibn Abi Talib as the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad.
Pilgrimage (Ziyarah): A religious journey undertaken by Muslims to sacred sites, particularly the shrines of Imams.
Hawza: A traditional Islamic seminary or religious school, particularly prominent in Shia Islam.
Imam: A religious leader, especially one considered to be divinely guided, in Shia Islam.