Besides the highly visited shrines of the Imams, there are two other categories of Islamic pilgrimage sites in Iran. These are imamzadihs, or the tombs of descendants, relatives and close friends of the twelve Imams; and the mausoleums of revered Sufi saints and scholars. Saints, Imams and the individuals enshrined in the Imamzadihs are viewed as having a close relationship with god and are therefore approached by pilgrims as intercessors. Pilgrims visit the shrine of a saint in order to receive some of his baraka, or spiritual power. Making a pilgrimage, ziyarat, also brings religious merit. Near the holy city of Qum stands the mosque of Jam Karan, built in 1005, and visited by large numbers of pilgrims. Other important pilgrimage shrines in Iran are located in Qum, Shiraz, Rey and Mahan. Written in classical Arabic with exquisitely laid tile work, verses of the Koran grace the sides of the mosques’ domes.

More about the Mosque of Jam Karan.

Written by  Martin Gray.

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