Shah-Abdol-Azim shrine

History

Shah-Abdol-Azim is a descendant of Imam Hasan, and was martyred in the 9th century, in Rayy, and buried in this place.

The mausoleum of Imamzadeh Hamzeh, Imam Reza's brother, and that of Imamzadeh Tahir, son of Imam Sajjad, are adjacent to this holy shrine.

The whole construction consists of a portal, a lofty ivan decorated with mirrors, several courtyards, a golden cupola, two tile minarets, a portico, a sepulcher and a mosque.The most historical and portable relic of this holy place, is its costly box which is made of betel-nut wood. On four sides of this precious box, a relief inscription in Nastaliq and Tulth characters, is carved.The inscription ends with the date A.D. 1330, and the name of the maker of the box, i.e., Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Isfahani.

An inlaid door near the mausoleum of Nasser al-Din Shah, (This place used to be called Masjid-i-Holaku, prior to its being turned into a tomb) which bears the date A.D. 1450, i.e., the period of Shah-rokh Bahadur Timurid`s reign, constitutes another historical relic of this structure.Two antique iron doors which are engraved with Kufic inscriptions are to be found in the treasure-house of the (Astaneh), which seem to be the oldest remains of this structure and to belong to the Seljukid period. But, at present, these two doors and the concluding part of their inscriptions bear the date A.D. 1538. Further, there is an inlaid door which had formerly been installed in the northern part of the ivan of Imamzadeh Hamzeh.

This door has an inscription in Tulth calligraphy, dated A.D. 1512. The cupola of this structure has been built upon the order of Majd al-Mulk radestani Qomi, and later on has been plated with gold.The ivan, portico and portal of the building date from the reign of Shah Tahmasb, the Safavid king.The gold-threaded silk belonging to the Safavid period.The silver-plated sepulcher has been made and installed by the order of Fath Ali Shah Qajar.The mirror-work, paintings and gildings of the structure belong to the 19th century.Reparations are still being carried out in this complex of holy structures. Adjoining this holy tomb, there are some other tombs belonging to the Qajar monarchs, and the Ulamahs (religious scholars) and other personalities.