Kufa

Kufa (al-Kufa in Arabic) is a city in Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000.

Along with Karbala, and Najaf, Kufa is one of three Iraqi cities that are of great importance to Shiite Muslims. The city was the location of the capital of Ali ibn Abu Talib.

Kufa was established in 638 by Arab armies that were fighting the Sassanids. After Ali ibn Abu Talib became caliph, he moved his headquarters and capital to Kufa as he prepared for battle with Muawiyah who was leading a revolt from Syria. Ali was killed in the city, and buried in the nearby city of Najaf. After Muawiyah became caliph, Kufa served as a base for the supporters of Ali, and later its inhabitants would house his son Hussein.

In the mid-8th century, the city was taken by the Abbasids who made it a temporary capital while Baghdad was being constructed. At this time, Kufa was an important learning center, and is where the kufic script of the Arabic language originated. Even after the capital was moved to Baghdad, Kufa remained in an important position. However, it began to come under constant attack in the 11th century and eventually shrunk and lost it's importance.

In the last century, the population of Kufa has begun to grow again. It continues to be an important pilgrimage site for Shiite Muslims.

Kufa is presently under the effective control of the anti-occupation fighters of the Mehdi Army, who are leading a Shi'ite insurgency, despite attempts by American soldiers to eliminate the local resistance.