The Darb-e-Imam


This is an important shrine containing the tombs of two "Imamzadeh" or descendants of the line of 'Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammad, who is considered by Shi'ites to be the first Imam. Safavid inscriptions on the tombs identify the Imamzadehs as Ibrahim Tabataba'i and Zayn al-'Abidayn 'Ali.

The building represents several different construction periods and is interesting on this count alone. The decorative work is of a very high order, and exhibits a wide variety of styles. The majority of the work round the porch or pishtaq dates from the Qara- Quiunlu period (1453/857 H.).

As can be seen the domes both inside and out are undergoing extensive reconstruction. The smaller of the two which dates from 1670 is beautifully decorated inside and worth viewing even in its dilapidated state. The larger dome may have existed since the fifteenth century, although the current workmanship is of early Safavid origin (1601-2), and the decoration is similar to that on the tomb of Baba Rokn Al-Din.

In front of the pishtaq there is the grave of an unknown Bakhtiari surmounted by an 18th century traditional stone lion used by this tribe to denote the graves of great men. The lion's mouth is open and inside it is the face of a man, while the sides of the lion are decorated with objects associated with the man such as his rifle. There is another slightly better preserved lion in the shrine of Imamzadeh Ahmad to the west of the Royal Mosque, and several more examples in the Bakhtiari area of the main cemetery to the South of the city.


Doorway Icon Enter the shrine.

Up Arrow Examine the decoration on the pishtaq.


Right Arrow North to the dome of Avicenna

Down Arrow East to the Masjed-e-Jomeh

Right Arrow South to the Shrine of Haroun Vilayat


Mosque Icon Other Mosques and Shrines

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24-February-95