Hawza Najaf
Other name | Hawza of Najaf |
|---|---|
| Type | Hawza |
| Established | Possibly 9th century AD, see Founding |
Religious affiliation | Twelver Shia Islam |
| Dean | Ali al-Sistani |
| Location | , |
| Campus | Urban |
| Language | Arabic |
The Najaf Seminary (Arabic: حوزة النجف), also known as the al-Hawza Al-Ilmiyya (الحوزة العلمية), is the oldest and one of the most important Shia seminaries (hawza) in the world. It is located near the Imam Ali Shrine in the city of Najaf in Iraq, and also operates a campus in Karbala, Iraq.
Grand Ayatollah Sayed Ali Sistani currently serves as head of the Hawza Al-Ilmiyya in Najaf, which includes two other Ayatollahs - Mohammad Ishaq Al-Fayyad and Bashir al-Najafi. The number of students studying there has waxed and waned in modern times, from 15,000-20,000 in the mid-20th century, down to 3000 during the repressive reign of Saddam Hussein, to around 13,000 as of 2014.
As of 2014 the curriculum has been updated to include many modern subjects as well as interfaith and inter-sect initiatives.