An Architectural Wonder: Imam Reza Holy Shrine Is A Masterpiece
The great golden shrine belongs to Imam Reza (AS) the eighth Shia Imam.
Every year millions of pilgrims travel to Iranian city of Mashhad, in northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi.
The director of the holy shrine, Mustafa Feizi, said on Wednesday that some 400 thousand pilgrims visit the holy shrine on a daily basis.
The number, he said, grows to 1.4 million on special religious occasions.
On Saturday, concurrent with the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza (AS) the shrine is once again filled with over a million pilgrims.
Imam Reza (AS), a descendant of prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was born in Medina in 766 AD. He moved to Thus in Iran after the order of Mamun, the seventh Abbasid caliph.
This is when the most significant part of his life regarding his political and religious role was initiated and concluded by his martyrdom in 818 AD.
Due to Imam Reza's prominent status among Muslims his holy shrine had become one of the religious hubs for Muslims and especially Shias. It has had large architectural developments throughout its history.
Imam Reza’s holy shrine is a complex of buildings formed progressively during almost a thousand year. It has been constantly restorated, and maintained and new extensions have been added to it during different eras.
The beautiful complex is a pure manifestation of Islamic arts.
It is one of the most significant religious places for Iranians and other Muslims all around the world.
According to the United Nations cultural arm UNESCO, Kumpfer, a German tourist who visited Iran during (1096-1105 AH/ 1685-1694 AD) describes the holy shrine complex as “outstanding.”
“The most outstanding, extensive and engaging holy shrines in Iran, undoubtedly, are as follows: first, Imam Reza’s Holy Shrine in Mashhad. Second, his sister’s Holy shrine in Qom and, third, Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil,” he said.
UNESCO says the city of Mashahd was formed thanks to the creation of the holy shrine, therefore, the complex becomes the religious, political, social and also artistic center for the city.
It also, immensely, influences the economic status of the city, it says.
The holy shrine under which the tomb of Imam Reza is located is the first structure built in the complex, it adds.
“This architectural heritage, due to its long lifespan, glorious decorative elements such as tiles, mirror decorations, gilded dome, stone-works, plaster-works, etc. incorporate sublime tangible and intangible values.”
According to the UNESCO Allah verdikhan dome, Hatam khani dome, Do Dar School, Parizad School and various monumental buildings such as minarets, Saqqa khanehs (water houses), Neqareh Khanehs, etc., as well as the museum objects and manuscripts in the Astane-e Qods collections are of other valuable elements of the complex.
It also states that Gowharshad mosque, is of significant historic architecture within the complex.
The mosque is considered a masterpiece of Iranian architecture from the Teimurid era for its fine decorative arts and tiles.
The distinguished architect of Teimurid time, Qavam al- din ibn Zein al- din Shirazi built the structure using brick and gypsum in Islamic architectural style.
Iran eyes a UNESCO status for the spiritual tradition of pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS).
If registered, the UN cultural body helps to preserve the treasured pilgrimage rituals that are rooted in the public and Islamic beliefs.
By Maryam Qarehgolzou
