Revered quartz draws visitors for beauty and spiritual value

NAJAF — In the heart of Najaf’s old city, the gemstone known as Durr al-Najaf continues to attract visitors from across Iraq and the Gulf, prized not only for its beauty but also for its deep spiritual significance.

Commonly identified as quartz, Durr Al-Najaf holds a revered place in Shia Islamic tradition. Some historical accounts claim the stone descended to earth on the wedding day of Imam Ali and Fatima Al-Zahraa.

“Raw Durr Al-Najaf is unpolished, while the Chinese quartz comes already cut and polished — but its value is lower. It doesn’t come from the blessed land of Najaf,” gemstone carver Ali al-Jubouri told 964media.

The stones vary widely in appearance, shaped by natural elements such as rainwater, soil, and embedded organic material. Among the rarest is the Durr Nafti, an oil-colored variety that can sell for up to 6 million dinars (around $4,050). Gulf buyers tend to prefer stones with rare inclusions — red dots, tiny sticks, or natural fragments — while Iranian customers often opt for simpler white stones, priced as low as 2,000 dinars (about $1.35).

“There’s also red Durr Al-Husseini, which is from Najaf, not Karbala, but it’s called Husseini because of its color,” al-Jubouri added. “We also find stones with impurities, such as bits of wood, algae, or hair. They come in many colors — white, clear, red, yellow, black, indigo.”

Prices depend on the stone’s rarity, appearance, and shape. Artisans cut them into squares, ovals, rectangles, or domes resembling the shrine of Imam Ali. Final pieces are set into rings, prayer beads, or medallions based on customer request.

Gemstone vendor Mustafa Haidar described how the stones are sourced.

“Durr Al-Najaf is picked from the western desert of Najaf at sunrise or sunset, when the sunlight reflects off the stone and gives it a glow,” he said.

Collectors sell the raw stones to carvers, who polish and shape them for resale. “Experts say that genuine Durr Al-Najaf comes from a specific area between three hills known as al-Thakwāt. If it’s collected from elsewhere, it’s not considered authentic,” Haidar added.