Kufa

Kufa is a city in Iraq, about 170km south of Baghdad, and 10km northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Presently, Kufa and Najaf are joined into a single urban area that is mostly commonly known to the outside world as 'Najaf'.Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya and Najaf, Kufa is one of five Iraqi cities that are of great importance to Shi'ite Muslims. The city was the final capital of the fourth Rashidun Caliph, that is Ali ibn Abu Talib, and was founded during 639 CE (17 Hijrah) by the second Rashidun Caliph, that is Umar ibn Al-Khattab. It is also related that, Muslims after conquest of Al-Madain were searching to have a suitable place for habitation. Likewise others, Salman and Hudhayfa bin al-Yamman were also looking for. Just choosing the land they offered prayers there. Since that day the foundation of Kufa had taken place.