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'''Ray''' or '''Rey''' is a religious city and a pilgrim destination in [[Iran]] which had a religious and political status since ancient time until the sixth/[[twelfth  century]]. It was the religious capital of [[Zoroastrianism]] and summer capital of Ashkani dynasty. Ray was also the capital of [[Buyid]] and [[Seljuk]] dynasties in Islamic era. After that its importance reduced significantly. Today Ray is known for the [[shrine of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]]. A number of [[Shi'ite]] scholars, politicians and artists are buried in Ray including [[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq]], [[Muhammad Reza Mahdavi Kani]], [[Ayatullah Kashani]], Jalal Al-e Ahmad and Nasir al-Din Shah.

Attacks of Mongols and their destruction, diversity of religions and conflicts among their followers are among the main reasons behind the decline of Ray. This city became famous again in the time of Constitutional Movement in Iran but it did not attain its former status. Ray is regarded a part of Tehran and it includes twenty eight shrines of descendants of Shi'a Imams, four hundred and eighteen mosques and seventy two [[husayniyya]]s. Seminary schools have been active in this city for a long time; in addition a number of universities have a branch there.

Ray is called Raga in Behistun Inscription which is left from Darius time. It was called Muhammadiyya in the time of Abbasid caliphs, as Muhammad or Mahdi, the Abbasid caliph was living in Ray in the time of his Crown Princeship; he rebuilt the city. However later the city was called Ray again.

A large number of world travelers and historians from different historical periods have written about Ray including: [[Ibn Faqih]] in 3 A.H. who called Ray the bride city on earth and a link between [[Khorasan]] and Gorgan and [[Iraq]] and [[Tabarestan]]; Ahmad b. Jayhani in 5 A.H. who said there was no bigger city than Ray from Iraq to Nishabur; Hamd Allah al-Mustawfi in 8 A.H. in his book Nihza al-qulub has called Ray as Umm al-Bilad (the mother of cities) of Iran and also Shaykh al-Bilad (the noble city) of Iran regarding its history.

Some historical sources stated that Islam conquered Ray in the time of [['Umar b. Khattab]] and few sources stated that it took place in the time of [['Uthman b. Affan]], between 18 to 24 (A.H.). It is said Qarza b. Ka'b al-Ansari conquered Ray. Some researchers believe disagreements on the name of the conqueror of Ray is a result of resistance of people to surrender as it was captured a number of times.

Throughout history, Ray has been always regarded as a crucial city. It became the summer capital of Ashkani government from two centuries B.C. In Achaemenid era Ray was a flourished and important city. In addition, it was among the most populous cities of Iran as it contained vital political buildings. In the time of Buyid and Seljuk governments, Ray was chosen as the capital which represents the importance of the city in Islamic era.

Mahdi, the successor of [[Mansur]], the Abbasid caliph lived in Ray for some years. He made efforts to flourish the city. The Grand Mosque of Ray and the walls around the city were built by his orders.

In the 4th A.H. Buyids took over the city. Rukn al-Dawla and Baha' al-Dawla, the Buyid kings, ordered to repair the buildings of the city. Based on historical sources, Sahib b. 'Ibad built a grand library in the city which contained books carried by four thousand camels. Ray became the cultural capital of Shi'ites in Buyid era and numerous scholars and faqihs were living there.

Seljuk rulers conquered Ray in 234 A.H. Tughril repaired the city and then built a grand mosque which became known by his name. The Tughril Tower is the remains of Tughril's mausoleum. Also a number of other Seljuk Shahs were buried there including Tutush b. Alp Arslan and Tughril b. Alp Arslan.

There are no accurate information on the exact time of emergence and settlement of Shi'ite Muslims in Ray. However, regarding the title of companions of [[Twelver]] Imams "Razi" it can be assumed, Shi'ites appeared in Ray in the second century after [[Hijrat]], i.e. in the time of [[Imamate]] of [[Musa al-Kazim (a)]]. [[Husayn b. Muhammad al-Razi]] a companion of Imam Kazim (a), [[Abu al-Husayn al-Razi]] and Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Razi companions of [[Imam al-Rida (a)]] are among the notable companions who lived in Ray. According to historical reports fifty four companions of Twelver Imams were living in Ray: Two companions of Imam al-Rida (a), eleven companions of [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]], six companions of Imam al-Kazim (a), nine companions of Imam al-Rida (a), eight companions of [[Imam al-Jawad (a)]], eleven companions of [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]] and four companions of [[Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]].

The entrance of [['Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]] in Ray in 250 A.H. was a milestone in history of Shi'ites in Ray. From the third to the seventh century A.H. a large number of [[Sayyids]] were living in Ray. Hasan b. Zayd b. Muhammad who was invited by Alavis of Tabarestan and then established Alavid rule in [[Tabarestan]] in 250 A.H. was living in Ray.

Throughout history, Ray had rulers with different religious attitudes and religions including Nasibi rulers such as Kathir b. Shahab who disapproved [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] as well as Shi'ite Buyid rulers such as Sahib b. 'Ibad. Based on historical reports on Seljuk era, different religious groups were settling in Ray:

Shi'ites: they were the majority in Ray in Seljuk era.  Zaydi, Isma'ili and Usuliyya groups were living in Shi'ites regions of Ray.

Hanafiyya: they were the second majority groups in Ray in Seljuk era who were followers of [[Mu'tazila]] and Najariyya.

Shafi'iyya: they were the minority group in Seljuk era who were followers of Qadriya and [[Asha'ira]]; they were living in different regions of Ray.

Ray was amongst the most important cities of Iran before and after the [[emergence of Islam]]. It faced with outrageous religious conflicts in the fifth century (A.H.) In addition, the attacks of Mongols deteriorate its destruction as the decline of a thriving city began. Selection of Tehran, a city near Ray, as the capital of Iran was another reason that prevented Ray to flourish and retain its significance. Although Ray returned to center of attention in Constitutional Revolution in Iran as constitutionalists went on a strike in the court yard of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani's shrine, today the significance of Ray is only because of existence of 'Abd al-'Azim's shrine.

Ray is condemned in a number of Shi'ite narrations. Some of them condemned this city, as its governance played role in martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a). Some regarded the soil of Ray as evil and cursed. According to historical reports, 'Umar b. Sa'd was preparing to set out for Ray to take over the governance when 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad ordered him to face [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. At first Ibn Sa'd refused but he was threatened by 'Ubayd Allah that if he refuse to do so, he has to give away the governance of Ray. Then he accepted the ordered and faced Imam's (a) army in [[Karbala]] with his troops.

The attacks of Mongols to Ray led to demolition of the city. It was so horrible that Ray could never recover and flourish again. It was partially rebuilt in the time of Ilkhanate and successors of Genghis Khan especially Mas'ud Ghazan but then again another attack by Timur led to demolition of the city yet again. According to travel accounts of a Belgian traveler: "There was nothing left from the significant and momentous of this ancient and grand city." He described that all the palaces, temples, mosques and houses were demolished and turned into wreckage which remained until Safavid era. When Shah Tahmasp I, chose Tehran as the capital of his government in 944 A.H. Ray became a part of Tehran. Since then Ray was known only for existence of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani's shrine.

When constitutionalists went on a strike in [['Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]]'s shrine for a month in 1323 (A.H.), Ray returned to center of attention. In addition, some other strikes took place in 'Abd al-'Azim's shrine including the strike of merchants against Joseph Naus, a strike against opposition of Muhammad 'Ali Shah against Constitutional Movement, the strike of [[Sayyid Hasan Mudarris]] and a number of religious scholars to force Ahmad Shah to sack Samsam al-Saltana. Since then the importance of Ray was due to the existence of the shrine of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani.

Besides the shrines of descendants of Shi'ite Imams buried in Ray, a number of political and religious grand figures are buried in Ray as well, especially in the court yard of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani's shrine including [[Muhammad b. Zakariyya al-Razi]] a Muslim medic and philosopher, [[Imam Fakhr al-Razi]] or Muhammad b. 'Amr Fakhr al-Din Khatib al-Razi, [[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq]], Nasir al-Din Shah and Jalal Al-e Ahmad.

The Ibn Babaway's mausoleum is the burial place of Al-Shaykh al-Saduq who passed away in 381 A.H.

Ray had a large number of schools and scientific centers until the sixth century A.H.