Saed News: You can view unseen images of Imam Reza's shrine and the people's devotion to him throughout various periods of Iran's history.
According to the history section of Saed News, in the past, when resources were scarce and travel was difficult, how did Iranians make the pilgrimage to Imam Reza's shrine? With minimal facilities and much hardship, the journey was long—walking from Tehran would take a month, and riding would take 10 days.
Visiting the shrine of Imam Reza was always a cherished dream in Iran. Many people likely never had the chance, while others had the determination and fortune to go and become "Mashhadi" (from Mashhad, the city where the shrine is located).
In the Qajar period, Edward Pollack wrote: “After Karbala, Mashhad is the pilgrimage site that attracts the attention of all Shia.” Ernest Orsel also wrote: “Imam Reza (AS) is one of the national saints of Iranians, and his tomb is visited annually by thousands of people.” The Frenchman Claude Ane wrote in Iranian Papers: “This Imam is a rightful descendant of the Prophet, who was treacherously poisoned in Mashhad and is buried in the mosque of this city, where he rests in eternal sleep. Every true Iranian should be from Mashhad.”
Naser al-Din Shah's Pilgrimage and His Beautiful Poem
There are travelogues from the ancient pilgrimage to Khorasan, written by those with a poetic soul, and the most interesting is Naser al-Din Shah Qajar’s travelogue, which includes a beautiful description of the shrine. Here is an excerpt from Naser al-Din Shah's travelogue during his pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Reza, describing his journey and the state of the shrine during the Qajar period:
“We rode in a carriage towards the city. It was one and a half miles to the city and half a mile to the blessed shrine. It was a two-mile journey... We reached the gardens and arrived at Babaqadr caravanserai. There was a welcoming crowd of all kinds. The people of Mashhad were diverse, from every tribe. We got on horses near the city and rode with the commander-in-chief. We entered through the city gate and rode straight until we reached the courtyard. There, we dismounted, brought the banners of the holy shrine, kissed them, and entered the shrine. Under the drum tower of the shrine, which is very high and a magnificent structure, we took off our hats and entered the courtyard. It felt like we had entered paradise. From there, we moved from room to room and courtyard to courtyard until we reached the holy tomb. It was a moment that cannot be described. May it be granted to all Muslims…”
This image depicts the renovation of Imam Reza's shrine during the Qajar period.
After visiting the shrine, I went to the Goharshad Mosque and other places, prayed for the soul of the late Crown Prince, and then left the courtyard. We rode for a short distance, about half a mile, to the Ark. There, we rested, enjoyed the shade, and ate some plums.
On both sides of the city's streets, there were shops, houses, and gardens, with a large canal running through the middle. It had plenty of water.”
It is famously known that once, Naser al-Din Shah, due to a vow he made for healing from an illness, went to the shrine and served as a shoe cleaner for 15 days. Since he had a poetic nature, he composed a beautiful poem that was inscribed on a plaque above the shoe-cleaning area of the shrine:
"Where do I have the air of a kingly reign,
When I have the privilege of serving the eighth Sultan?
It is rightful that I boast to kings on the Day of Judgment,
For I served as the shoeshiner of the Sultan of Faith, Imam Reza (AS)."
The Panjeh Fulad (Steel Window) is a bronze window that was installed during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. Over time, some parts of the window became worn, causing problems for pilgrims. After the Islamic Revolution, the original window was moved to the museum, and a new bronze window was installed in its place.
People at Imam Reza’s shrine during the Qajar era
Imam Reza’s shrine during the Pahlavi Era
