Eid al-Ghadir and the reshaping of the urban fabric in Najaf: a morphological-social analysis of the sustainability of spatial identity in religious cities

Source abstract

This research aims to analyze the transformations that have occurred in the urban fabric of the holy city of Najaf in light of the Eid al-Ghadir season, a religious and social event that leaves recurring spatial and behavioural impacts within the spaces of the holy city. The research seeks to explore the relationship between religious rituals and morphological transformation, and the extent to which this is reflected in the sustainability of religious spaces and the strengthening of identity and connection to place. The study adopted an analytical-interpretive approach that combined spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), field observation, and semi-structured interviews with residents, visitors, and officials of the Al-Alawi Shrine. Maps and aerial photographs from the period 1990–2024 were compared to reveal urban and functional changes in the historical area. The results showed that the Eid al-Ghadir season constitutes a symbolic urban force that redistributes functions within the city and reproduces collective memory and spatial identity, while simultaneously generating significant pressure on the historical fabric and infrastructure. The results also revealed a weakening of traditional spatial hierarchy and a divergence in the connection to place between visitors and local residents.