THE NAJAF HAWZA AND POST-SISTANI SCENARIOS 15 THE NAJAF HAWZA: ORIGIN, EVOLUTION, AND RECENT ASCENSION Baghdad and the Iraqification of Islamic science The origin of the Najaf Hawza cannot be separated from the events that preceded it. It did not arise by mere coincidence but rather as a result of a dramatic event in the 5th century AH, after one of the most brilliant Shi‘ite scholars decided to move his colloquium to this desolate Iraqi desert city. It was known at the time only as the resting place of one of the most important Shi‘ite spiritual figures, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, a cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the father of his grandchildren, from whom descended all those who later traced their lineage to the Prophet. In the era before Shaykh Tusi’s move to al-Ghari, the site of the Imam Ali Shrine, Shi‘ites’ learning and educational attainment passed through two phases: The school’s formative period This phase began with the efforts of the Fifth Imam, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (d. 114 AH/ 732 AD), and then the Sixth Imam, his son Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sadiq(d. 148 AH/ 765 AD). This period saw the earliest scholarly structure of the Husaynid branch of Shi‘ism(the sons and grandsons of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, who constitute the spiritual leadership of Twelver Shi‘ism). This phase stretched into the fourth century AH/ 10th century AD, when the major hadith collections were compiled: Al-Kāfī fī Funūn‘Ulūm al-Dīn by Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Kulayni(d. 329 AH/ 941 AD) and Man lā Yaḥḍuruhu al-Faqīh by Abu Ja‘far Mujammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh al-Qummi(d. 381 AH/ 991 AD). This trend would later be called the traditionist(muhaddith) school. Because this phase focused on the collection of hadiths and reports, it was characterized by coming and going between different cities. The men of this phase were known for traveling frequently and settling only briefly in the places where they went to seek out hadiths. Several cities emerged as important in this context, including Medina, Kufa, Qom, Ray, Beyhagh, Neyshabur, Khorasan, Baghdad, and so on. There are many notable names from this phase, most importantly: Zurara ibn A’yan, Ma’ruf ibn Kharrabudh, Burayd ibn Mu’awiya al-’Ijli, Abu Basir al­Asadi, Al-Fudayl ibn Yasar, Muhammad ibn Muslim, Jamil ibn Darraj, Abd