Ray: Difference between revisions

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>

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>

Mahdi, the successor of [[al-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.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 31.</ref>

In the 4th/10th century, Abbasids gradually lost their grip on Ray and Buyids took over the city<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 34.</ref>. Rukn al-Dawla and Baha' al-Dawla, the Buyid kings, ordered to repair the buildings of the city.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 35.</ref> Based on historical sources, Sahib b. 'Abbad built a grand library in the city which contained books carried by four thousand camels.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 35.</ref> Ray became the cultural capital of Shiites in Buyid era and numerous scholars and faqihs were living there.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 35.</ref>

Seljuk rulers conquered Ray in 234/849. 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.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 36.</ref>

* Shiites: they were the majority in Ray in Seljuk era.<ref>Yāqūt al-Hamawī, ''Muʿjam al-Buldān'', vol. 2, p. 598.</ref>  [[Zaydi]], [[Isma'ili]] and Usuliyya groups were living in Shiites regions of Ray.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Aṭlas-i Shīʿa'', p. 208.</ref>

* [[Shafi'iyya]]: they were the minority group in Seljuk era<ref>Yāqūt al-Hamawī, ''Muʿjam al-Buldān'', vol. 2, p. 598.</ref> who were followers of Qadriyya and [[Asha'ira]]; they were living in different regions of Ray.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Aṭlas-i Shīʿa'', p. 208.</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>

Ray is condemned in a number of Shiite narrations.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 40.</ref> Some of them condemned this city, as its governance played role in [[martyrdom]] of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]].<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 40.</ref> Some regarded the soil of Ray as evil and cursed.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 41.</ref> 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 refuses to do so, he has to give away the governance of Ray. Then he accepted the order and faced Imam's (a) army in [[Karbala]] with his troops.<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 3, p. 176-177.</ref>

The attacks of Mongols to Ray led to the demolition of the city. It was so horrible that Ray could never recover and flourish again.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 37.</ref> 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 the demolition of the city yet again.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 37-38.</ref> According to travel accounts of a Belgian traveler: "There was nothing left of the significance and grandeur of this great ancient city". He described that all the palaces, temples, mosques and houses were demolished and turned into wreckage which remained until Safavid era.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 38.</ref> When [[Shah Tahmasp I]], chose Tehran as the capital of his government in 944/1538, Ray became a part of Tehran.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 38.</ref> Since then Ray was known only for existence of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani's shrine.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 38.</ref>

When constitutionalists went on a strike in the [[Shrine of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani]] for a month<ref>Kasravī, ''Tārīkh-i Mashrūṭa-yi Īrān'', p. 66.</ref> in 1323/1906, Ray returned to center of attention.<ref>Kasravī, ''Tārīkh-i Mashrūṭa-yi Īrān'', p. 73.</ref> 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.<ref>Afḍalī, "Taḥaṣṣun", vol. 6, p. 666.</ref> Since then the importance of Ray was due to the existence of the shrine of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani.<ref>Qāʾidān, "Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī", p. 39.</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>Ṣafāyī, "Ray" 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.

*Hamawī, Yāqūt b. abd al-Allāh al-. ''Muʿjam al-Buldān''. Tehran: Sāzmān-i Mīrāth-i Farhangī-yi Kull-i Kishwar, 1383 Sh.

*Qāʾidān, Aṣghar. ''Āstān-i muqaddas-i ḥaḍrat-i abd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī dar gudhashta wa ḥal''.Qom: Sāzmān-i Chāp Wa Nashr-i Dār al-Ḥadīth, 1382 Sh.