Portal:Iraq
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The Republic of Iraq (Arabic: العراق transliteration: al-‘Irāq العراق , Kurdish: عيَراق), is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing most of Mesopotamia as well as the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert. It shares borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, and Iran to the east. It has a very narrow section of coastline at Umm Qasr on the Persian Gulf. There are several suggestions for the origin of the name of Iraq; one dates back to the Sumerian city of Uruk (or Erech). Another suggestion is that Iraq comes from the Aramaic language, meaning "the land along the banks of the rivers." Some suggest that the word was adapted from the Arabic for "well-grounded country", as something of a marketing ploy by the British. Under the Sassanid dynasty, there was a region called "Iraq Arabi" which referred to the southern part of modern Iraq. Al-Iraq was the name used by the Arabs themselves for the land since the 6th century. 
 Najaf (Arabic: النجف; BGN: An Najaf) is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2003 was 585,600 people, though this has increased significantly since 2003 due to immigration from abroad. It is the capital of Najaf province. It is one of the holiest cities of Shia Islām and the center of Shia political power in Iraq. 32° 0'29.54"N, 44°20'58.18"E is it's precise location.  "Shi'a" is the short form of the historic phrase Shi'at ‘Ali شيعة علي, meaning "the followers of Ali" or "the faction of Ali". Both Shi'a and Sunni sources trace the term to the years preceding the death of Muhammad, see Shi'a etymology. The word "Shia" means "followers; members of party". The Shia Muslims are the followers and believers of (Allah) the Allmighty Creator of existence, His Prophets and Imams (Guides to Heaven), His Messages and the Ahlul Bayt (The Family of the House of Prophet Mohammad). The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Mohammad) said to Imam Ali: "Good News to you O Ali! Verily you and your companions and your Shia (followers) will be in Paradise." (Reference: See Below) 
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani (Arabic: السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني Persian: سید علی حسینی سیستانی; born approximately August 4, 1930) is a Grand Ayatollah, a Shi'a marja . He is currently an important political figure in Post-invasion Iraq. The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was born in Mashhad, Iran to a family of religious scholars. His grandfather, for whom he was named after, was a famous scholar who had studied in Najaf. Sistani's family originally comes from Isfahan. 
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