The Imamzadeh Chaharmanar (Persian: امامزاده علی بن مجاهد) also known locally as Imamzadeh Ali ibn Mujaheed is a historic mausoleum located in Tabriz, Iran.[1] It was built during the Seljuk period and is number 651 on Iran's list of national monuments.[2][3][1]

Imamzadeh Chaharmanar
Religion
AffiliationTwelver Shi'a
ProvinceEast Azerbaijan province
Location
LocationTabriz, Iran
Imamzadeh Chaharmanar is located in Iran
Imamzadeh Chaharmanar
Shown within Iran
Geographic coordinates38°04′54″N 46°17′29″E / 38.0817717°N 46.2913747°E / 38.0817717; 46.2913747
Architecture
Typemausoleum
StyleSeljuk
CompletedBuilt during the Seljuk era, year unknown, and renovated in the Qajar period in 1863
Specifications
Lengthapprox. 6 metres
Dome(s)1
Minaret(s)4
Materialsbrick

The mausoleum contains the tomb of Ali ibn Mujaheed, a descendant of the fourth Ahlulbayt Imam, Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, as well as two of the rulers of the Rawadid dynasty. The mausoleum is located next to the historic Gharabaghi Mosque, but unlike the mosque, it has been closed since 1965.[4]

Etymology

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The name "Chaharmanar" means "four minarets" in Persian. This is because the mausoleum has four identical minarets on each of its corners.

History

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An inscription on the building gives the first construction to a time during the Seljuk period.[3][5] In the 11th century, the Rawadid ruler Abu'l-Hayja Mamlan I and his son, Abu Mansur Wahsudan were buried in the mausoleum.[3] The mausoleum also survived the 1721 Tabriz earthquake.[3]

In the year 1863, major repairs were done, under orders of Qajar princess, Zia ol-Saltaneh, daughter of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.[3]

Modern history

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The place was shut down in 1965, and it has been locked ever since then.[2] Residents of Tabriz complained about the neglect of the mausoleum, and how the Gharabaghi Mosque next to it received renovations and was active[6] in contrast to the mausoleum.[1][7] In 1975, the government did issue a statement expressing interest in restoring the mausoleum, but not much had been done.[1] The mausoleum was not reopened for public access either.[1]

Architecture

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The mausoleum is a square building made out of brick[5] which has a large dome and four raised minarets, one in each corner.[5] The mausoleum is entered through a door on its southern side.[5] Inside the mausoleum, on the western side, there is an opening in the floor that leads into a basement and cellar.[5] Inside the cellar is the tomb of Ali ibn Mujaheed, and it has a meshed wooden zarih enclosing it.[5]

Burials

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  • Ali ibn Mujaheed - a descendant of the fourth Imam, Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin[8]

Rawadid rulers

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  • Abu'l-Hayja Mamlan I - Third amir of the Rawadid dynasty
  • Abu Mansur Wahsudan - son of Abu'l-Hayja Mamlan I and the fourth amir of the Rawadid dynasty

Shi'ite clerics

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "امامزاده چهار منار ساخته در دوره سلجوقیان تبریز در حال تخریب است". 2018-03-17. Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  2. ^ a b https://www.irna.ir/amp/82026947/
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "بقعه "علی‌بن‌مجاهد" در آستانه تخریب قرار دارد - تسنیم". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  4. ^ "بقعه "علی‌بن‌مجاهد" در آستانه تخریب قرار دارد - تسنیم". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f زاده, مرضیه فلاح (2015-04-09). "امامزاده علی بن مجاهد (ع) تبریز". گردشگری ایران (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  6. ^ "بقعه "علی‌بن‌مجاهد" در آستانه تخریب قرار دارد - تسنیم". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  7. ^ "بقعه "علی‌بن‌مجاهد" در آستانه تخریب قرار دارد - تسنیم". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  8. ^ (چهارمنار، محله کمترشناخته‌شده تبریز) Chaharmanar, a lesser-known neighborhood of Tabriz Islamic Culture and Relations Organization