Islamic gemstones
Dur-e-Najaf: The Clear Stone of Najaf درِ نجف
In short: Dur-e-Najaf is natural colourless quartz, called rock crystal, named after the holy city of Najaf in Iraq, where Hazrat Ali is buried. It is traditionally worn mainly in Shia families as a devotional stone. Its value lies in being genuine natural crystal, so a buyer's main task is ruling out glass and cubic zirconia.
Dur-e-Najaf is natural colourless quartz, called rock crystal, named after the holy city of Najaf in Iraq, where Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is buried. It is worn mainly in Shia families as a devotional stone. Its value lies in being genuine natural crystal, so the main task for a buyer is to rule out glass and cubic zirconia.
- Mineral
- Quartz (rock crystal)
- Colour
- Colourless
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Name
- Pearl of Najaf
From the vault
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Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
The name and the tradition
"Dur" means pearl, so the name reads "pearl of Najaf". By tradition the first stones came from the area around Najaf, and the name has stayed with clear quartz from any source. In Shia devotional literature, sayings attributed to the Imams recommend wearing Dur-e-Najaf, and it is commonly cited among the stones a believer may wear alongside aqeeq and feroza. Scholars differ on the chains of these narrations. Families wear it for clarity of heart, protection and closeness to the Ahl al-Bayt. These are beliefs, not promised outcomes, and we give no ruling on them.
What genuine Dur-e-Najaf looks like
Natural rock crystal is water-clear but seldom perfect. Under a loupe you will usually see fine wispy veils, tiny crystals or faint feathers. Its sparkle is bright and white rather than rainbow-coloured. It feels cool in the hand and stays cool for a moment.
- Glass: shows perfectly round bubbles, warms quickly in the palm and has softer, rounded facet edges.
- Cubic zirconia: heavier for its size and throws strong flashes of red, green and blue.
- Quartz: doubly refractive, so in a larger stone a loupe may show far facet edges very slightly doubled.
Our detailed article on Dur-e-Najaf, glass or zircon walks through each check.
Dur-e-Najaf, quartz and price
Because rock crystal is common in nature, a genuine Dur-e-Najaf is not a costly stone, and price follows clarity, cut and size. A water-clear stone with few visible inclusions and a well-proportioned cut is worth more than a cloudy one. A very low price for a large, flawless stone with strong rainbow sparkle should make you think of glass or zircon.
Shapes and settings
Dur-e-Najaf is cut as ovals, cushions and domed cabochons for rings, and as beads for tasbih. Many men set it in silver and wear it on the little finger of the right hand, as with aqeeq. Some stones are engraved with names or short duas. Because the stone is clear, a closed back with a polished silver base reflects light up through it and makes it look brighter.
Care
At 7 on the Mohs scale it suits daily wear, though a hard knock can chip an edge, so a bezel is sensible. Clear stones show every film of soap and lotion, so wash it in warm soapy water with a soft brush and dry it with a lint-free cloth.
Related stones
Moh-e-Najaf is the same quartz with golden needles inside; see our Moh-e-Najaf guide and Moh-e-Najaf stones. If you prefer a colourless stone with more sparkle, compare white topaz. For the wider tradition read our Islamic gemstones guide or browse aqeeq.
Buying Dur-e-Najaf from us
Every stone in our Dur-e-Najaf collection is natural quartz, photographed on its own. A certificate is available on request, lab testing can be arranged, and Cash on Delivery lets you check the stone before you pay.
References
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