Origins of the Imam Reza Shrine

The Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran, is the burial place of Ali al-Rida, the eighth imam of Twelver Shia Islam, who died near Tus in the early ninth century. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Shia world and draws millions of visitors every year. The complex has grown over centuries into a vast compound of courtyards, mosques, libraries, museums and a seminary, with a golden dome over the tomb. The Goharshad Mosque, built under the Timurid queen Goharshad, is a masterpiece of Persian architecture with its blue tilework. The shrine is also a major religious and cultural institution and manages large charitable endowments.

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