Six kilometres north of Kufa, the Sahla Mosque is a place of intense devotional importance for Shia pilgrims. Tradition associates it with several prophets and imams, and many believe it will be the future residence of the Mahdi when he reappears. Pilgrims often come on Wednesday nights to recite special prayers within its courtyard.
The mosque is a low complex with multiple small shrines under a single roof, modest in architecture compared to the Imam Ali Shrine but always busy with worshippers. The atmosphere — slightly secluded, surrounded by date palms — gives it a more contemplative feel than the central Najaf mosques.