Every culture and civilization has sacred human models, and these human models may have a profound influence on the life of that society and its way of living. These human models are not confined to Eastern culture but extend to Western culture as well; however, Easterners celebrate these human models more and more, owing to the abundance of different religions and civilizations that have succeeded one another across the Eastern world. Because Iran played an important role in human history as well as in the history of Islam, the soil of this land has been blessed by encompassing a considerable number of the saints of God — prophets, scholars, pure Imams, and companions, upon whom be thousands of salutations and praise.
This article will guide you to the most important pilgrimage destinations in Iran and provide you with the most important historical information about those destinations.
1. The Shrine of Imam al-Ridha (Peace Be Upon Him)
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, peace be upon him, is the eighth of the pure Imams in the Shia school of thought, and he is a descendant of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him. Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha traveled in the second century of the Hijri calendar, around the year 200, to the Khorasan region of Iran and was buried in the city of Mashhad..
The golden, radiant yellow dome of this noble shrine dazzles the eyes from great distances, and the spiritual atmosphere one feels in this place makes a person forget the worries of the world and turn inward — to its pains and hopes, its past and present. The enchanted pigeons that circle the domes of this blessed site, as though one wishes to take their place, add further to the beauty of this place.
This pure shrine is the refuge and sanctuary of Muslims when life overwhelms them with its hardships. Sitting for even one hour in a corner of this sacred precinct polishes the human heart and awakens a person to themselves. The shrine of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha is the grandest and most sacred of all pilgrimage sites, visited annually by millions of tourists from various parts of the world.
2. The Shrine of Lady Fatima al-Masumah
The shrine of Fatima, daughter of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, in Qom is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Iran. This noble lady is the sister of Imam al-Ridha, peace be upon him. Lady Fatima al-Masumah traveled to Khorasan with the intention of visiting her brother Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, but she fell ill along the way and passed away in the city of Qom.
Everything in this blessed site adds to the purity and serenity of the soul — from the pigeons you can feed with wheat and barley, to the turquoise and glass tiles that adorn the walls of this noble place.
A visit to the city of Qom is recommended for lovers of religious sciences, as this city and the threshold of Lady Masumah are filled with religious scholars and people of knowledge and virtue, in addition to the shrine’s museum, which has gathered various artifacts from the Islamic arts. What further adds to the importance of visiting the shrine of this noble lady is the hadith of Imam al-Ridha, peace be upon him, in which he said: “Whoever visits my sister Masumah in Qom is as one who has visited me.”
3. The Shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa al-Kadhim, Peace Be Upon Him (Shah Cheragh)
The shrine of Shah Cheragh, which is the shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa al-Kadhim, peace be upon him, is one of the important pilgrimage sites in Shiraz. This righteous servant of God is a brother of Imam al-Ridha, upon whom be thousands of salutations and praise, and is also considered among the descendants of the Ahl al-Bayt. The shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa al-Kadhim is considered the third largest shrine in Iran.
Among the most beautiful experiences one can have at this blessed shrine is to gaze attentively at the beautiful architecture, represented by the soaring walls and colorful tiles — add to that the entrance of the pure shrine overlooking the courtyard, which is mounted on thick wooden columns and serves as a veranda overlooking the shrine’s courtyard with its large pool.
The sunset hour at this noble shrine has its own special beauty, where one can sit on the edge of the shrine’s pool, listen to the sound of the call to prayer, and feast one’s eyes on the sight of the magnificent blue dome.
4. The Shrine of Abd al-Azim al-Hasani (Shah Abd al-Azim)
Sayyid Abd al-Azim al-Hasani, or Shah Abd al-Azim al-Hasani, is likewise from the lineage of the pure Imams, as the ancestry of this noble Sayyid traces back to Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba, peace be upon him, the second Imam of the Shia.
Among the most beautiful experiences you can have at this blessed shrine is viewing the domes and the ancient turquoise tiles, which have remained largely intact in most places, making them among the finest treasures in the history of Iranian architecture.
Because the shrine of Shah Abd al-Azim is located in the old and historic districts of the city of Tehran, one can become acquainted with the popular, religiously devout culture of the people who have inhabited that area since ancient times. There is also the experience of shopping in the old bazaar of the Shah Abd al-Azim shrine, which dates back hundreds of years.
5. The Shrine of the Prophet Daniel, Peace Be Upon Him
The Prophet Daniel, peace be upon him, is considered one of the prophets of the Children of Israel, whose lineage traces back to the Prophet David, peace be upon him. The blessed shrine of this noble prophet — who is widely mentioned in the books of both Judaism and Islam — is located in the ancient city of Susa, which belongs to Khuzestan Province.
The dome of this sacred place has added to its beauty and made it a site of attractive architecture; the white dome of this noble place reaches twenty meters in height and was designed in the form of small tiers, which visitors can see from great distances.
This noble shrine was built on the bank of the Shaur River, and around it markets have been built that display Arab fabrics, perfumes, incense, and spices. The experience of dining in the riverside park on the bank of the Shaur River, with the dome visible on the other side of the river, is one of the attractions of traveling to this destination.
6. Jamkaran Mosque
This mosque is one of the most important and greatest mosques in Iran. It is located six kilometers from the Qom–Kashan road. The history of this mosque’s construction dates back approximately one thousand years. The importance of this mosque lies in its connection to the Hidden and Awaited Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him; it is said that this mosque was built at his direction to one of the scholars of Qom, to serve as a refuge for his devotees and lovers.
Enjoying the tranquility of this place and experiencing the sight of the blue domes — whose beauty is further enhanced by the green lights of the lamps — creates for a person a beautiful, unforgettable scene.
Prayer sessions are held at this sacred place on various days of the week and throughout the year, but the ceremonies of the month of Sha’ban are something else entirely, as people celebrate in the middle of Sha’ban the birth anniversary of the Awaited Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him, and joy fills this delightful place. Wherever you look, you see thousands of smiling, beaming faces; chocolate is scattered and sweets and sherbet are distributed everywhere throughout this blessed shrine.
7. The Shrine of Sayyid Salih ibn Musa al-Kadhim
The shrine of Sayyid Salih ibn Musa al-Kadhim is the most famous sacred site in the capital, Tehran. Sayyid Salih ibn Musa al-Kadhim is one of the brothers of Imam al-Ridha, upon whom be thousands of salutations and praise. The blessed site of this noble Sayyid is located to the southeast of Tajrish Square in the capital, Tehran.
This pure shrine is distinguished by its large blue dome and its two tall minarets. What further adds to the historical character of the shrine of Sayyid Salih is a plane tree that can be viewed up close and dates back 800 years; although the upper part of this tree has been cut, the trunk still remains as it was before.
Tajrish Bazaar is one of the oldest and most beautiful markets in Tehran, and it is adjacent to this noble shrine. Various goods are sold in this market, most notably copper vessels and decorative items, as well as clothing and vegetables.
8. The Shrine of Sayyid Dawud
Sayyid, or Imamzadeh, Dawud is considered a descendant of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba. This noble Sayyid was buried among the towering mountains of Tehran. This distinguished Sayyid is regarded as one of the virtuous and noble figures whom history has remembered for his knowledge and the purity of his conduct.
It used to be difficult for visitors to reach this noble shrine, but the road was improved over time.
What distinguishes this blessed site is that it is situated amid the towering beauty of Tehran’s mountains, where the weather differs by several degrees due to the altitude. So if you are among those who enjoy mountain climbing, you can choose this shrine as a preferred destination and pass, during your ascent, by attractive natural landmarks such as waterfalls, small popular markets, and traditional folk restaurants that have been built along the road to this shrine.
We have attempted in this article to point out the most important pilgrimage sites in Iran, but these places are not all of the blessed sites in Iran. It can be said that there is not a single province in Iran that is without such sacred places, owing to Iran’s role in Islamic history and its having witnessed many events and migrations that, over the course of time, compelled the descendants of the pure Imams and their devotees to emigrate.
To find out which Iranian traditions are internationally registered, you can refer to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Iran.