Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini
آرامگاه سید روح‌الله خمینی
The mausoleum complex in June 2023
Religion
AffiliationShia Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status
StatusActive
Dedicated in honor ofRuhollah Khomeini
Location
LocationBehesht-e Zahra cemetery, Tehran, Tehran province
CountryIran
Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini is located in Tehran
Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini
Location of the tomb in Tehran
Map
Geographic coordinates35°32′57″N 51°21′59″E / 35.5492°N 51.3665°E / 35.5492; 51.3665
Architecture
Architect(s)Parviz Moayyed
TypeIslamic architecture
Funded byGovernment of Iran
Groundbreaking19 July 1989
Completed2025
Construction costc.US$2 bn
Specifications
Dome(s)One
Minaret(s)Four
Minaret height91 m (299 ft)
Site area2,000 ha (4,900 acres)
Shrine(s)Many
MaterialsConcrete; marble
Website
astaan.ir (in Persian)

The Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini (Persian: آرامگاه سید روح‌الله خمینی; Arabic: ضريح روح الله الخميني), also known as the Holy Shrine, or the Haram Motahhar, is a Shi'ite Islamic mausoleum that houses the tombs of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his wife Khadijeh Saqafi, and his second son Ahmad Khomeini; and some political figures, such as former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,[1] former Vice President Hassan Habibi, Lieutenant General Ali Sayad Shirazi, Iranian Revolution figure Sadeq Tabatabaei, and MP Marzieh Hadidchi. The mausoleum is located to the south of Tehran in the Behesht-e Zahra (Paradise of Zahra) cemetery.

The mausoleum is the centerpiece in a funerary complex spread over 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres),[2] that houses the tombs, a cultural and tourist center, a university for Islamic studies, a seminary, a shopping mall, a 20,000-car park,[3][2] and a branch of the National Museum of Iran.[4] Construction commenced in 1989 following Khomeini's death on 3 June of that year, took over 35 years to complete, and the Iranian government reportedly devoted US$2 billion to the development.[3] In May 2025 it was announced that the official commemoration will be held on 4 June 2025.[5]

The site is a place of pilgrimage for followers of Khomeini. It is used symbolically by government figures, and is on occasion visited by foreign dignitaries.[6] Every year, Khomeini's death anniversary is marked on 4 June at the mausoleum in a ceremony that is attended by governmental officials, foreign ambassadors, and others. Khomeini's grandson, Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, is in charge of caring for the mausoleum.[7]

Architecture

[edit]

The tomb was designed by Mohammed Tehrani.[2] The exterior of the shrine complex is a highly recognizable landmark. It has a gold dome sitting on a high drum, surrounded by four free-standing minarets that are 91 metres (299 ft) high.[8] The shrine is surrounded by a large rectangular plaza which has been designed to hold vast numbers of visitors. With its size, inclusion of a qibla wall and a maqsura, the tomb resembles a mosque, but has been called an Hussainia.[9]

Non-Muslims are allowed inside the complex.[10]

Incidents

[edit]

On 20 June 2009, a suicide bomb attack occurred near the site of the mausoleum, in which the attacker was killed and three pilgrims were injured.[11]

On 7 June 2017, the mausoleum was attacked by three gunmen[12][13] while a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the mausoleum.[14] One female militant attacker was captured.[15] Government officials later claimed to have thwarted a third attack.[14] One person died and five people were injured. Others attacked the parliament building at the same time.[16]

[edit]
  • Zarih, inside the mausoleum
    Zarih, inside the mausoleum
  • Inside zarih
    Inside zarih
  • Tombs in the yard
    Tombs in the yard

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini". Lonely Planet.
  2. ^ a b c "Ustan-i Imam Khumayni". ArchNet.org.
  3. ^ a b Shenon, Philip (8 July 1990). "Khomeini's Tomb Attracts Pilgrims". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Iran's Archaeological Society Criticizes 'National Museum' At Khomeini Mausoleum". Radio Farda. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Muslim World Personalities to Be Invited to Imam Khomeini Commemoration Ceremony". International Quran News Agency. 6 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  6. ^ "News related to Iran, Iranians and Persians". FarsiNet News. June 1997.
  7. ^ "Khomeini's grandson speaks out on Iran military". France 24. 10 February 2008. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009.
  8. ^ "Ayatollah Khomeini's mausoleum: A symbol of Iranian pride". 8 June 2017.
  9. ^ Kaplan, Robert (1996). Ends of the Earth, A journey at the Dawn of the 21st Century. Random House. p. 179.
  10. ^ "Mehr-e-Khavar Iran In Brief". Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  11. ^ "Bomber killed at Khomeini shrine - Iran media". Reuters. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  12. ^ "7 killed in twin attacks on Iranian parliament and Khomeini's tomb, Hostage situation underway". Muslim Global. June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Iran Attacks: Shooting inside Iran's Parliament". CNN. 7 June 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Iran attacks: 'IS' hits Parliament and Khomeini mausoleum". BBC. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Invasion four terrorist to Khomeini Shrine/ One woman was captured". fa.alalam.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  16. ^ Erdbrink, Thomas (14 June 2017). "Finding Bravado, and Worry, at an Iranian Shrine Where ISIS Struck". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2025.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Rizvi, Kishwar (2003). "Religious Icon and National Symbol: The Tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran". =Muqarnas. p. 20.
  • Wright, Robin (2000). The Last Great Revolution: Turmoil and Transformation in Iran. New York: A. A. Knopf.
[edit]

Media related to Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mausoleum_of_Ruhollah_Khomeini&oldid=1289555110"