Ray: Difference between revisions

Ray is amongst the ancient cities of Iran<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Aṭlas-i Shīʿa'', p. 207.</ref> with a history that goes back to 7 century B.C. This city was called Ragha in Zoroastrian holy books<ref>Qarachānlū, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Tārīkh-i Ray", p. 113.</ref>; even some sources mentioned that Zoroaster and his mother were born in Ragha.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 66, Quoted from ''Ray-i bāstān'', vol. 1, p. 62.</ref> In Achaemenid era, Ray was an important and flourishing city. It was also amongst the populous and political cities in first centuries after the emergence of Islam. In Buyid and Seljuk era, Ray was the capital of the country.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 139, Quoted from ''āthār-i bāstānī-yi Tihrān'', p. 122.</ref>

Ray is called Raga in Behistun Inscription which is left from Darius time.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 66, Quoted from ''Ray-i bāstān'', vol. 1, p. 98.</ref> It was called Muhammadiyya in the time of [[Abbasid]] [[caliph]]s, as [[Muhammad al-'Abbasi|Muhammad]] or [[Mahdi al-'Abbasi|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.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 65, Quoted from ''Juqhrāfīyā-yi sarzamīn-hāyi khalāfat-i sharqī'', p. 231.</ref>

A large number of world travelers and historians from different historical periods have written about Ray including: [[Ibn Faqih]] in 3/624 who called Ray the bride city on earth and a link between [[Khorasan]] and [[Gorgan]] and [[Iraq]] and [[Tabarestan]]<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 84, Quoted from ''Mukhtaṣar-i Kitāb al-Buldān'', p. 270.</ref>; Ahmad b. Jayhani in 5/626 who said there was no bigger city than Ray from Iraq to [[Nishabur]]<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 39.</ref>; Hamd Allah al-Mustawfi in 8/629 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.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 88; Quoted from ''Nazhat al-qulūb'', p. 52.</ref>

Some historical sources stated that Islam conquered Ray in the time of [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] and few sources stated that it took place in the time of [['Uthman b. Affan]],<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 26.</ref> between 18/639 to 24/645.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 68.</ref> 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.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 68, Quoted from ''Ray-i bāstān'', vol. 1, p. 160-161.</ref>

Throughout history, Ray has been always regarded as a crucial city. It became the summer capital of Ashkani government from two centuries B.C.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 138.</ref> 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.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 139.</ref> In the time of [[Buyid]] and [[Seljuk]] governments, Ray was chosen as the capital which represents the importance of the city in Islamic era.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 139.</ref>

There are no accurate information on the exact time of emergence and settlement of Shiite Muslims in Ray. However, regarding the title of companions of [[infallible]] Imams (a), "Razi", it can be assumed, Shiites appeared in Ray in the 2nd/8th century, i.e. in the time of [[Imamate]] of Imam Musa l-Kazim (a). [[Husayn b. Muhammad al-Razi]] a companion of Imam al-Kazim (a), [[Abu l-Husayn al-Razi]] and Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Razi [[List of Companions of Imam al-Rida (a)|companions of Imam al-Rida (a)]] are among the notable companions who lived in Ray.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Aṭlas-i Shīʿa'', p. 207.</ref> According to historical reports fifty four companions of infallible Imams (a) were living in Ray: Two [[List of Companions of Imam al-Rida (a)|companions of Imam al-Rida (a)]], eleven [[List of Companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a)|companions of gImam al-Sadiq (a)]], six [[List of Companions of Imam al-Kazim (a)|companions of Imam al-Kazim (a)]], nine companions of Imam al-Rida (a), eight [[List of Companions of Imam al-Jawad (a)|companions of Imam al-Jawad (a)]], eleven [[List of Companions of Imam al-Hadi (a)|companions of Imam al-Hadi (a)]] and four [[List of Companions of Imam al-'Askari|companions of Imam al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]].<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 105, Quoted from ''Āyina-yi pazhūhish'', p.80.</ref>

As [[Yaqut al-Hamawi]] wrote in ''[[Mu'jam al-Buldan]]'', Ray was dealing with conflicts and battles before the attacks of Mongols.<ref>Yāqūt al-Hamawī, ''Muʿjam al-Buldān'', vol. 2, p. 598</ref> According to historical reports, about ten Islamic sects and two non-Islamic sects were living in Ray who were presenting their religious beliefs with different [[theology]] and [[fiqh]]; it was the main reason that heated the conflicts in Ray.<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 103, Quoted from ''Ray-i bāstān'', vol. 2, p. 59.</ref>

Besides the shrines of descendants of Shiite Imams buried in Ray, a number of political and religious grand figures are buried in Ray as well, especially in the courtyard 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<ref>''Dāʾirat al-maʿārif-i Tashayyuʿ'', vol. 8, p. 418.</ref>, [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]], [[Nasir al-Din Shah]]<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 168.</ref>, and Jalal Al-i Ahmad.

[[Shrine of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani|'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani's shrine]] is the most prominent shrine in Ray who is also known as Sayyid 'Abd al-Karim; his lineage goes back to [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] within four generations. He has narrated [[hadith]]s from [[Imam al-Jawad (a)]] and [[Imam al-Hadi (a)]]. Shiite scholars like [[al-Shaykh al-Saduq]] and [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]] have regarded him as [[Al-Muwaththaq#Types of Hadith|thiqa]] (reliable hadith narrator).<ref>Malikī Mīyānjī, "Jughrāfīyā-yi Ray", p. 66, Quoted from ''Ray-i bāstān'', vol. 1, p. 56-57.</ref>