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Draft:Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini

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Mausoleum of Imam Khomeini
General Information
Established1990
LocationTehran
Other namesMarqad-i Imam (Imam's Tomb)
Specifications
Area15,000 square meters
Architecture
StyleIranian-Islamic
Renovation2015
Websitehttp://astaan.ir/


The Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini (Persian: حرم امام خمینی), commonly referred to as the Marqad-i Imam (Imam's Tomb), serves as the burial complex for Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, alongside affiliated structures. Located 23 kilometers south of Tehran, the shrine's construction was initiated in 1990 by Jihad-i Sazandigi and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The anniversary ceremony of the Imam's passing is observed annually at the shrine, highlighted by addresses from high-ranking officials. The architectural design was conceived to harness desert winds for cooling and incorporates five domes and four minarets. The structure has faced various critiques, particularly regarding its "eclectic" style and its perceived resemblance to medieval cathedrals.

The site has been the target of security incidents, including an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani on February 1, 1994, and a terrorist attack by ISIS on June 7, 2017, which resulted in one martyrdom and four injuries.

Administration of the shrine is the responsibility of Sayyid Hasan Khomeini, the grandson of Imam Khomeini. The complex also houses the graves of other notable figures, including Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani, a high-ranking official of the Islamic Republic; Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini, the son of Imam Khomeini; and Khadija Thaqafi, the Imam's wife.

History of Construction, Development, and Custodianship

The first dome of Imam Khomeini's tomb in 1989

Construction of the shrine, situated at the inception of the Tehran-Qom highway (23 km from Tehran), commenced in 1990 under the auspices of Jihad-i Sazandigi and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and remains an ongoing project.[1] It is reported that the land designated for Imam Khomeini's burial originally belonged to the father of a martyr and was purchased from him at the time.[2]

A new courtyard, featuring a design distinct from the earlier architecture, was officially inaugurated on the twenty-sixth anniversary of the Imam's passing (June 4, 2015).[3] A variety of welfare facilities, including residential complexes, tents, restrooms, showers, green spaces, and children's play equipment, have been developed adjacent to the shrine.[4] The tomb's original dome, which was yellow and positioned over the burial containers, has since been painted green and repurposed as a prayer hall in the courtyard of the Laleh complex in Ponak Square. This area, formerly known as the Namazi Garden, was originally a property of Jihad-i Sazandigi.[5]

Two weeks after his father's passing, Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini, the son of Imam Khomeini, appointed Muhammad 'Ali Ansari as the supervisor of the shrine via a letter. Following Sayyid Ahmad's death in March 1995, and in accordance with his will, his son Sayyid Hasan Khomeini assumed the responsibility of the shrine's custodianship (Tawliyat).[6]

The anniversary ceremony of Imam Khomeini's passing is held annually at the shrine on June 4, characterized by speeches from Sayyid 'Ali Khamene'i and Sayyid Hasan Khomeini, attended by officials and the general public.[7] Furthermore, the shrine hosts ceremonies for officials to renew their allegiance to the Imam's ideals, military parades, and religious observances such as the Night of Qadr.[8]

The first dome of Imam Khomeini's tomb, now painted green and repurposed as a prayer room.
The thirty-fifth anniversary ceremony of Imam Khomeini (June 4, 2024/Imam Khomeini's tomb)[9]

Architecture and Design

The initial architectural concept for the shrine was developed with the objective of utilizing desert winds to cool the interior and mitigate the intense summer heat.[10] The complex encompasses a covered area of 60,000 square meters, with the main burial section occupying 15,000 square meters.[11]

Following the Imam's passing, the original Zarih (burial grille) was constructed using simple geometry and minimal ornamentation.[12] Upon the suggestion of Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini, symbols representing the Ashura of Imam al-Husayn (a) and the encampment (Khaymagah) were incorporated into the design.[13] The contemporary structure is engineered to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 10[14] and features five domes and four minarets; the central golden dome rises to a height of 68 meters, while the minarets stand 91 meters tall.[15] Additionally, the internal columns of the tomb reach a height of 42 meters, a symbolic reference to significant years in the Imam's life.[16]

The identity of the shrine's primary designer remains a subject of debate. Reports have variously attributed the design of different sections to Sayyid Muhammad Sani' Khani,[17] Muhammad Tehrani,[18] and Parviz Muayyid-'Ahd.[19]

The old Zarih of Imam Khomeini's tomb
The new Zarih of Imam Khomeini's tomb

Architectural Criticism

The architecture and construction costs of the shrine have drawn significant criticism. Yahya Nuriyan, an architectural expert, characterizes the design as "eclectic architecture"[20] that attempts to blend Christian architecture, Islamic motifs, and ancient Iranian elements, arguing that the result is unprincipled and lacks artistic cohesion.[21] He notes that the interior evokes the atmosphere of medieval cathedrals, intended to instill awe and ambiguity.[22] In June 2015, a research session was convened at the Art Bureau in Tehran specifically to analyze and critique the shrine's aesthetics.[23] 'Ata' Allah Omidvar, one of the shrine's architects, maintains that the Imam prioritized the people[24] over architecture. Regarding the shrine's museum, he observes that the multiplicity of rooms and stone walls has effectively transformed the space into a museum rather than a traditional shrine.[25]

Security Incidents

The Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini has been the site of two notable security incidents. On February 1, 1994, a gunman fired shots at Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani within the complex; Rafsanjani was unharmed, and the assailant was apprehended.[26] The second incident occurred on June 7, 2017, when four armed terrorists affiliated with ISIS attacked the shrine, resulting in one fatality and four injuries.[27]

Interments

In addition to Imam Khomeini, the shrine serves as the final resting place for several prominent figures. These include Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini, the Imam's younger son and close advisor; Akbar Hashimi Rafsanjani, a key figure in the revolutionary struggle against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and a senior official of the Islamic Republic; Khadija Thaqafi, the Imam's wife; Muhammad Burujirdi, the Imam's son-in-law; Muhammad Rida Tavassoli, head of the Imam's office; Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Sultani Tabataba'i, the father-in-law of Sayyid Ahmad Khomeini; and Sayyid Mahmud Du'a'i.[28]

Ayatollah Khamene'i, Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, visiting the grave of Khadija Thaqafi, wife of Imam Khomeini.

The Gonbad Documentary

The documentary film Gonbad ("The Dome"), directed by Hamid Mujtahidi, chronicles the history and development of Imam Khomeini's shrine, detailing the construction stages of the dome, including the installation of the foundation and columns.[29]

Produced at the behest of the Cultural and Artistic Organization of Tehran Municipality, the documentary features interviews with officials from the Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works and Sayyid Hasan Khomeini, the shrine's custodian, providing detailed insights into the site selection and the complex's expansion.[30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ḥasanlū, "Astonishment of foreigners by the Shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini (ra)", ISNA News Agency.
  2. ↑ "Explanation regarding the lands purchased in the vicinity of Imam Khomeini's shrine", Asr Iran.
  3. ↑ "Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra) to be inaugurated", Hamshahri Online.
  4. ↑ Ḥasanlū, "Astonishment of foreigners by the Shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini (ra)", ISNA News Agency.
  5. ↑ "The fate of the first dome of the tomb of Imam Khomeini (ra) + images", Fars News Agency.
  6. ↑ "A memento from the memento of the Imam", Imam Khomeini Portal.
  7. ↑ "The Leader of the Revolution: The unique attraction of the Imam has found further extension / Presence of more than 350,000 pilgrims at the Imam's passing ceremony / People, officials, and foreign guests at the Imam's shrine / More than 350 domestic and foreign journalists covered the ceremony," Tabnak website.
  8. ↑ "Ceremony of renewal of allegiance of government members with the ideals of the late Imam and the martyrs," Tasnim News Agency; "Start of the armed forces parade near the Shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra)," Tabnak website; "Night of Qadr ceremony at the Shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra)," IRIB News.
  9. ↑ "Thirty-fifth anniversary ceremony of the passing of Imam Khomeini with a speech by Ayatollah Khamenei at the Shrine of Imam Khomeini", Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.
  10. ↑ Zandī, "A report on special programs for the nineteenth anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic", Jomhouri Eslami newspaper, May 22, 2008.
  11. ↑ Zandī, "A report on special programs for the nineteenth anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic", Jomhouri Eslami newspaper, May 22, 2008.
  12. ↑ Nūriyān, "Critique of the architecture of Imam Khomeini's shrine", Architecture Events Portal.
  13. ↑ "The Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini (s)", Imam Khomeini Portal.
  14. ↑ Zandī, "A report on special programs for the nineteenth anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic", Jomhouri Eslami newspaper, May 22, 2008.
  15. ↑ Zandī, "A report on special programs for the nineteenth anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic", Jomhouri Eslami newspaper, May 22, 2008; "Muhammad Ali Ansari's response to doubts raised about the construction of Imam Khomeini's shrine", Khabar Online.
  16. ↑ "Architectural attractions of the Imam's shrine / Who is the designer of the founder of the revolution's tomb?", Young Journalists Club.
  17. ↑ "Who was the designer of the zarih of Imam Khomeini's shrine?", Ettela'at newspaper, September 15, 2020.
  18. ↑ Barābādī, "Omidvar: For the Imam, people were important, not architecture", Shargh newspaper, June 2, 2015, p. 20.
  19. ↑ Ḥasanlū, "Astonishment of foreigners by the Shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini (ra)", ISNA News Agency.
  20. ↑ Nūriyān, "Critique of the architecture of Imam Khomeini's shrine", Architecture Events Portal.
  21. ↑ Nūriyān, "Critique of the architecture of Imam Khomeini's shrine", Architecture Events Portal.
  22. ↑ Nūriyān, "Critique of the architecture of Imam Khomeini's shrine", Architecture Events Portal.
  23. ↑ Amrāʾī, "Aesthetics and anthropology of the Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra)", Soureh.
  24. ↑ Barābādī, "Omidvar: For the Imam, people were important, not architecture", Shargh newspaper, June 2, 2015, p. 20.
  25. ↑ Barābādī, "Omidvar: For the Imam, people were important, not architecture", Shargh newspaper, June 2, 2015, p. 20.
  26. ↑ "Shooting at Hashemi Rafsanjani in the Shrine of Imam Khomeini", Fararu website.
  27. ↑ "Martyrdom of two individuals in the terrorist attack on the Iranian Parliament and the Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini (ra)," Iran Press website.
  28. ↑ Ḥasanlū, "Astonishment of foreigners by the Shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini (ra)", ISNA News Agency; "Muhammad Baqir Sultani Tabataba'i Burujirdi (ra)," Al-Shia portal.
  29. ↑ "History of the formation of Imam Khomeini's (ra) shrine in a documentary", Mehr News Agency.
  30. ↑ "History of the formation of Imam Khomeini's (ra) shrine in a documentary", Mehr News Agency.

References

Template:Shi'ism in Tehran

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