Imam Ali Mosque - Silver Foil

Imam Ali Mosque Najaf - Postcard with Arabic calligraphy decoration in silver foil 

‘I am the city of knowledge and wisdom and Ali is it’s gate’ Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him

I visited this mosque almost 10 years ago, on a cold winter’s night in the city of Najaf, Iraq. This mosque is the burial site of Imam Ali.  The Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and best friend. A man whose writings have been used by the United Nations as the basis for their declaration of human rights.

It is only right to pay homage to such a figure on the night of the anniversary of his martyrdom- a man whom after being struck whilst in prostration in prayer, offered his attacker water.

I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes by Imam Ali, a quote from his will in a letter to his son, which I found apt in this theme of travel:

‘…See the ruined cities, the dilapidated palaces, decaying signs and relics of fallen empires of past nations. Then meditate over the activities of those people, what they did when they were alive and were in power, what they achieved, where they started their careers; where, when and how they were brought to an end, where they are now; what have they actually gained out of life and what was their contributions to the human welfare.’

As the first man to proclaim his faith (take the shahadah) I could only use the aya of the Quran in chapter 5 verse 83:

رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ

“Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.”