Evil Spirits Said to Haunt the World’s Largest Cemetery

According to local residents, jinn and other evil spirits are said to inhabit Wadi-us-Salaam, the enormous cemetery near the Iraqi city of Najaf. Stories about strange beings roaming among the tombs have become part of the cemetery’s mysterious reputation.

From a historical perspective, these beliefs are linked to much older mythology from the region. Traditions involving spirits and supernatural beings existed in Mesopotamia long before Islam spread across the area in the seventh century.

Wadi-us-Salaam, whose name translates as “Valley of Peace”, is far more than a place surrounded by legends. It is considered the largest cemetery in the world and has been used as a burial ground for more than 1,400 years.

The cemetery covers more than 9 square kilometers, equivalent to about 3.5 square miles. Estimates suggest that between 5 and 6 million people have been buried there over the centuries.

Its enormous size makes Wadi-us-Salaam look almost like a separate city when viewed from above. Thousands of tombs, mausoleums and narrow paths stretch across the landscape, creating a vast maze of burial sites.

The cemetery’s religious importance is closely connected to Najaf. It stands near the shrine associated with Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and an important figure in Shia Islam.

For centuries, Shia Muslims from Iraq and other parts of the world have sought burial at Wadi-us-Salaam. Many believe that being laid to rest near Ali’s shrine carries particular religious significance.

The cemetery also contains graves dating from many different periods of Iraqi history. Religious figures, political leaders, soldiers and ordinary people have all been buried among its countless tombs.

Wadi-us-Salaam continued to receive large numbers of burials during periods of war and political upheaval. During the Iraq War, reports suggested that hundreds of bodies could be brought to the cemetery in a single day.

Its combination of immense scale, ancient history and supernatural folklore makes Wadi-us-Salaam unlike almost any other cemetery. For local residents, however, the stories of jinn and spirits are only one part of a much older cultural tradition surrounding the site.

Information source: IFLScience.

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