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The Imam Reza shrine (Persian: حرم امام رضا, romanized: Haram-e Emâm Rezâ, lit. 'Sanctuary of Imam Reza') is the mausoleum of Ali al-Rida, the eighth Imam in Shia Islam, located in Mashhad, the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. As one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, with nearly 30 million Muslims making pilgrimages to the shrine every year, it is the most visited pilgrimage site in Islam. Imam Reza was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.^[1]

Religious significance

Several hadiths from the Shia Imams and Muhammad highlight the importance of pilgrimage to the shrine. A hadith from Muhammad says:^[1]

Pilgrimages by Shia monarchs

Among the Shia monarchs who visited the shrine is Ismail I, who visited the shrine right after establishing the Safavid Empire. Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Qutb Shahi dynasty, also visted the shrine. Before launching his major campaign to drive out the Uzbek occupiers from Khorasan, Tahmasp I visited the shrine to pray for victory.^[1]

Pilgrimages by Sunni monarchs

Among the Sunni monarchs who visited the shrine is the Seljuk Sultan, Sanjar. His son, who fell seriously ill and was brought to the shrine where prayers were offered for his recovery, is reported to have been healed there. This event strengthened the Seljuk court’s devotion to the shrine.^[1]

Visits by non-Muslims and conversion

There are numerous historical and modern reports of non-Muslims and even atheists from across the world visiting the shrine and converting to Islam upon visiting. In recent decades, countless people from China, Korea, Japan Poland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, India Russia, Georgia, Switzerland, France, Argentina, Australia, Greece, United Kingdom, United States, Mexico, Portugal, Ukraine, Canada, Spain, Armenia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands and Italy have took their Shahada at the shrine and converted to Islam.^[1]

Miracles

The Imam Reza Shrine has long been associated with reports of miraculous events (karāmāt) experienced by pilgrims and visitors.ʿUyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā by Ibn Babawayh has preserved accounts related to these events, and later centuries produced a large body of narratives connected specifically to the shrine as a place of healing and spiritual experiences. Many modern accounts describe pilgrims who visited the shrine seeking relief from illnesses and personal hardships and later reported unexpected recoveries or improvements. These accounts have been collected in numerous works about the shrine and are widely published.^[1]

Martyrdom of Imam Reza and early years

The shrine's early history began following the death of Imam Reza in 818 CE. He was poisoned by the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun, and was buried beside the grave of al-Ma'mun's father, Harun al-Rashid, in the village of Sanabad, near the city of Tus. The site soon became known as Mashhad al-Reza ("the Place of the Martyrdom of Reza"), from which the city of Mashhad takes its name.^[1]

Samanid and Ghaznavid eras

The Samanids (819–999 CE), who ruled over a large part of Greater Khorasan, were notable patrons of Sunni Islamic scholarship. They maintained and supported the Imam Reza shrine. Although there are limited architectural remnants from their time, historical accounts suggest that the Samanids contributed to the preservation and development of the shrine, ensuring that it remained a focal point for pilgrims.^[1]

Seljuk and Mongols eras

Sultan Sanjar, after the reported healing of his son in the shrine, renovated the sanctuary and added new buildings within its precincts. At the time of Sultan Sanjar, after Sharaf al-Din Abu Tahir b. Sa'd b.^[1]

Timurid and Safavid eras

Mashhad's glorious phase started during the reign of Shahrukh, son of Timur, and reached its zenith during the reign of the Safavid kings, who ruled Iran from 1501 to 1736 CE. Shahrukh Mirza, whose capital was Herat, regularly visited Mashhad for the pilgrimage. In the 15th century, during the reign of the Shahrukh Mirza, Mashhad became one of the main cities of the realm.^[1]