Radawiyya Seminary (Qom)

Radawiyya Seminary (Qom)

General Information
Established	Before the 7th/13th century
Type	Educational • Dormitory
Coordinates	34°38′31.5″N 50°53′26.9″E
Specifications
Status	Active
Facilities	Library • Mosque • Chambers
Architecture
Renovation	The governor of Qom in 1094/1682-3 Sayyid Hasan Sabuni in early Nasiri period Ayatollah Burujerdi in 1376/1956-7

Raḍawīyya Seminary (Persian: مدرسه علمیه رضویه) is one of the old seminaries of Qom, located in Bazaar Kuhna locality of Qom. It is said that in his journey to Tus, Imam al-Rida (a), stayed in this place which later became famous as Radawiyya. Today, this school is among active schools of Qom seminary.

History

There is no information about the date of building the school, but it is reported that in his journey to Tus, Imam al-Rida (a), stayed in this place (now known as Shah Khorasan neighborhood). Later, a school and a mosque were built there. It is famously said that Imam (a) performed wudu' and ghusl using the water of the well which is now in the courtyard of the school.

The Other Name

This school is also called Ma'muriyya because each of those who welcomed Imam (a) asked him to go to their house. Imam (a) answered their invitations saying, "Naqati ma'mura"; meaning that "my camel is instructed and wherever it sleeps, we will stay."

Repairs

The original building which existed until the seventh/thirteenth century was completely destroyed and later reconstructed and a part of it was appended to the street. The oldest part of the school is its north gate which is remained from the time of Safavids. At the two sides of this gate, there is an arc, above which there is a small epigraph which tells the date of its repair 1094/1682-3. It seems that Radawiyya school was reconstructed at that time by the governor of Qom and was repaired in early Nasiri period by Sayyid Hasan Sabuni. In the next years, the school was left useless for many years and turned into ruin until the time of Ayatollah Burujerdi when it was fundamentally repaired in 1376/1956-7.

Current Condition

This school is located at the beginning of Taliqani St., near its junction with Ammar b. Yasir St. Individuals including Ayatollah Mishkini, Ayatollah Baha' al-Dini and Sayyid Mahmud Taliqani studied in this school. Radawiyya school is currently among active schools of Qom seminary. It has several rooms and a library containing manuscripts and prints for the use of the students of Islamic studies.