# Kufa

> city in Iraq, about 170 kilometres (110 mi) south of Baghdad, and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northeast of Najaf.

**Wikidata**: [Q186234](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186234)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufa)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kufa

## Summary
Kufa is a historically significant city in Iraq, located about 170 kilometers (110 miles) south of Baghdad and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of Najaf. It is recognized as both a city and a big city, with a population that reached approximately 171,305 by 2018. Kufa holds deep religious and historical importance in Islamic history, having served as a capital of both the Rashidun and Abbasid Caliphates.

## Key Facts
- Kufa is located in Najaf Governorate, Iraq, since 1976.
- Coordinates: 32.03°N, 44.4°E.
- Population:
  - 2003: ~110,000
  - 2005: ~127,876
  - 2015: ~166,100
  - 2018: ~171,305 (most recent estimate)
- Elevation: 30 meters above sea level.
- Country: Iraq (established 1932).
- Capital of:
  - Rashidun Caliphate (632–661)
  - Abbasid Caliphate
- Instance of: city, big city.
- Official name and native label: الكوفة.
- Aliases: al-Kūfa, Al-Kufa, Kûfa, Al-Kūfah, Al-Kûfa, Kūfa, Куфа, 库法, аль-Куфа.
- Sitelink count: 76.
- Geonames ID: 99135.
- UN/LOCODE: IQKFA.
- Pronunciation audio available in Arabic.
- Commons category: Kufa.
- Maintained by: WikiProject Cities, WikiProject Iraq.
- Image: [Kufa Mosque](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Kufa_Mosque.jpg).
- Pronunciation audio: [Arabic](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/), [Arabic](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/).
- Connected to:
  - Rashidun Caliphate (first caliphate after Muhammad, 632–661)
  - Rashidun army (headquartered in Kufa and )
  - Great Mosque of Kufa
  - Al-Sahlah Mosque
  - al-Hamra Mosque
  - Khattabiyya (extremist Shiite sect)
- Related terms:
  - Kufic: a style of Arabic script.
- Described by:
  - Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
  - Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
  - Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition
  - Grove Art Online ID: T048197
  - Treccani ID: al-kufa
  - Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3928669
  - TDV Encyclopedia of Islam ID: kufe
  - Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf12009974
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: n87137832
  - Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 12091842p
  - National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007557865105171
  - Encyclopaedia of Islam (first edition) ID: SIM-4308
  - Encyclopaedia of Islam (second edition) ID: COM_0536
  - Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017): 2124114

## FAQs
### What is Kufa?
Kufa is a historically and religiously significant city in Iraq, located about 170 km south of Baghdad and 10 km northeast of Najaf. It is both a city and a big city, with a population of over 170,000 as of 2018.

### Where is Kufa located?
Kufa is located in Najaf Governorate, Iraq. Its coordinates are 32.03°N, 44.4°E, and it sits approximately 30 meters above sea level.

### What is the population of Kufa?
Kufa's population has grown over time:
- 2003: ~110,000
- 2005: ~127,876
- 2015: ~166,100
- 2018: ~171,305 (most recent estimate)

### What is Kufa known for historically?
Kufa is historically significant as it served as the capital of both the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661) and the Abbasid Caliphate. It was a center of early Islamic governance and religious learning.

### What religious or cultural sites are associated with Kufa?
Kufa is home to several important religious sites, including:
- Great Mosque of Kufa
- Al-Sahlah Mosque
- al-Hamra Mosque

### What is the Kufic script?
Kufic is a distinctive style of Arabic script historically used in early Islamic manuscripts and architectural decoration. It is named after Kufa due to its association with the city's early role in Islamic culture.

### What organizations or movements are connected to Kufa?
Kufa is associated with:
- Rashidun Caliphate
- Rashidun army (headquartered in Kufa)
- Khattabiyya (an extremist Shiite sect)

### What languages is Kufa known by?
Kufa is known by various names in different languages, including:
- Arabic: الكوفة (official name)
- English: Kufa
- Russian: Куфа
- Chinese: 库法
- Persian: کوفه
- French: Kûfa
- German: Kufa
- Turkish: Kufe
- Hebrew: כופה
- Urdu: کوفہ
- and many others.

### What encyclopedias and knowledge bases reference Kufa?
Kufa is referenced in:
- Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
- Encyclopædia Britannica
- Treccani's Dizionario di Storia
- Grove Art Online
- Online PWN Encyclopedia
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam
- Canadiana Name Authority
- Library of Congress Authority
- Bibliothèque nationale de France
- National Library of Israel
- Encyclopaedia of Islam (both first and second editions)
- Great Russian Encyclopedia Online

## Why It Matters
Kufa holds immense historical and religious significance in Islamic history. As the capital of the Rashidun Caliphate and later the Abbasid Caliphate, it was a center of early Islamic governance, military strategy, and theological development. The city is also associated with the Rashidun army, which was headquartered there. Kufa's religious importance is further highlighted by its connection to major mosques like the Great Mosque of Kufa and al-Hamra Mosque. The Kufic script, named after the city, is a foundational element of early Islamic calligraphy. Its role in the rise of early Islamic institutions and its continued relevance in modern Iraq make it a key site for understanding the evolution of Islamic civilization.

## Notable For
- Serving as the capital of the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661) and Abbasid Caliphate.
- Being the origin of the Kufic script, a foundational style of Arabic calligraphy.
- Hosting the headquarters of the Rashidun army.
- Being home to historically significant mosques such as the Great Mosque of Kufa and al-Hamra Mosque.
- Having a population exceeding 170,000 as of 2018.
- Being referenced in numerous encyclopedias and knowledge bases, including Brockhaus, Encyclopædia Britannica, and the Library of Congress.
- Being a center of early Islamic learning and political power.

## Body

### History
Kufa was founded in the 7th century and quickly became a central hub of the early Islamic world. It served as the capital of the Rashidun Caliphate from 632 to 661 and later as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. These roles established Kufa as a center of governance, military command, and religious scholarship. The Rashidun army, one of the earliest Islamic military forces, had its headquarters in Kufa, along with  (an unknown location in the source). The city's historical importance is further underscored by its mention in numerous encyclopedias and reference works, including the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedias, the Jewish Encyclopedia, and the Encyclopædia Britannica.

### Geography and Demographics
Kufa is located in Najaf Governorate, Iraq, since 1976. It lies about 170 kilometers (110 miles) south of Baghdad and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of Najaf. The city's coordinates are 32.03°N, 44.4°E, and it sits 30 meters above sea level. The population of Kufa has grown steadily:
- 2003: ~110,000
- 2005: ~127,876
- 2015: ~166,100
- 2018: ~171,305 (most recent estimate)

### Religious and Cultural Significance
Kufa is home to several historically significant religious sites:
- Great Mosque of Kufa
- Al-Sahlah Mosque
- al-Hamra Mosque

These mosques are central to the city's identity as a religious center. The Kufic script, a distinctive and early form of Arabic calligraphy, is named after Kufa due to its historical association with the city. This script was widely used in early Islamic manuscripts and architectural inscriptions.

### Political and Military Connections
Kufa was the headquarters of the Rashidun army, one of the earliest Islamic military forces. The city also has ties to the Khattabiyya, an extremist Shiite sect, highlighting its role in the complex religious and political dynamics of early Islamic history.

### Language and Names
Kufa is known by various names in different languages:
- Arabic: الكوفة (official name)
- English: Kufa
- Russian: Куфа
- Chinese: 库法
- Persian: کوفه
- French: Kûfa
- German: Kufa
- Turkish: Kufe
- Hebrew: כופה
- Urdu: کوفہ
- and many others.

### References in Encyclopedias and Knowledge Bases
Kufa is documented in numerous authoritative sources:
- Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
- Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
- Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition
- Grove Art Online
- Treccani's Dizionario di Storia
- Online PWN Encyclopedia
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam
- Canadiana Name Authority
- Library of Congress Authority
- Bibliothèque nationale de France
- National Library of Israel
- Encyclopaedia of Islam (both first and second editions)
- Great Russian Encyclopedia Online

### Modern Recognition and Data
Kufa is recognized in various digital and geographic databases:
- Geonames ID: 99135
- UN/LOCODE: IQKFA
- OpenStreetMap Node ID: 348089814
- OpenWeatherMap City ID: 99135
- Museum Digital Place ID: 12034
- WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJvMDtCVTddbgmQVDmR9Xd
- GNS Unique Feature ID: -3102589
- Yale LUX ID: place/10004681-f9bb-411f-809c-a269d15ca680
- FactGrid Item ID: Jiřína Adamičková-Pelcová
- Who's On First ID: 1243031627
- SNARC ID: September 28
- FAST ID: 1239339
- VIAF ID: 156031096
- IDREF ID: 029252067
- GND ID: 4356555-4
- Freebase ID: /m/02d4g9
- Treccani ID: al-kufa
- Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3928669
- Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf12009974
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n87137832
- Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 12091842p
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007557865105171
- Encyclopaedia of Islam (first edition) ID: SIM-4308
- Encyclopaedia of Islam (second edition) ID: COM_0536
- Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017): 2124114

### Cultural and Linguistic Resources
Audio pronunciations of "Kufa" are available in Arabic from Lingualibre:
- [Audio 1](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/)
- [Audio 2](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/)

Kufa is also categorized under:
- Category:Kufa (topic's main category)
- Category:People from Kufa (category of associated people)
- Category:Kufa (Commons category)

### Governance and Infrastructure
Kufa is maintained by WikiProject Cities and WikiProject Iraq, ensuring its continued documentation and study. The city is also part of the broader infrastructure of global geographic and cultural databases, reflecting its enduring relevance.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. [Source](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/Q205196)
4. [Source](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/Q205890)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. [Source](http://www.citypopulation.de/Iraq-Cities.html)
7. [Iraq: Governorates, Major Cities & Urban Centers - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/iraq/cities/)
8. GeoNames
9. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/iq.htm)
10. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
11. Dizionario di Storia
12. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/kufe)
13. museum-digital