Spiritual Life

Other Places to Visit

Bayt al-Nur

Bayt al-Nur, located about 10-15 mins walking distance from the holy shrine, was the house of Musa ibn Khazraj where Lady Masumah (a) stayed before her demise. Her place of prayer (mihrab) within the house is a frequent pilgrimage site and is known for the fulfilment of prayers and hajaat.

The green-lit mihrab inside Bayt al-Nur in Qum, framed by a white lattice screen, with a pilgrim standing in prayer before its blue-tiled arch
The mihrab at Bayt al-Nur, where Lady Masumah (a) prayed

Gulzar Shuhada

Gulzar Shuhada is a cemetery in which over 3000 martyrs are buried from the Iran-Iraq war fought between 1980 and 1988. It is a common visiting place for many locals and tourists to pay their respects, seek blessings and listen to some of the amazing life stories of these martyrs.

The tree-lined walkway through Gulzar Shuhada in Qum, its marble paving inscribed with the names of the martyrs buried beneath, with portrait boards of the fallen hung overhead
Gulzar Shuhada, where over 3,000 martyrs of the Iran–Iraq war are buried

Khizr Mountain

Khizr Mountain (Kuh Khizr) is located 6km from the city centre. On top of the mountain is a mosque which houses the cave in which Prophet Khizr is believed to have prayed. It is a peaceful place to pray and to admire the panoramic views of the city.

The shrine atop Khizr Mountain, its turquoise dome and patterned minaret rising above a rocky summit terrace lined with blue railings and green flags, overlooking the dense sprawl of Qum below
The shrine atop Khizr Mountain, overlooking Qum below

Ascending the mountain normally takes approx. 20 mins. Since the path leading to the top of the mountain has been recently upgraded and widened, even children and the elderly can safely and easily climb up.

Shaykhan Cemetery

Shaykhan Cemetery is an ancient cemetery located near the holy shrine of Lady Masumah (a). It memorialises the lives of six notable scholars of different historical periods. Currently, over six hundred grand religious figures and scholars are buried there including al-Mirza al-Qummi, Mirza Jawad Maliki Tabrizi and Ayatullah Fadil al-Tuni. A number of companions of the holy Imams are also buried there, including Zakariyya ibn Adam al-Ashari and Zakariyya ibn Idris who were companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a), Imam al-Kadhim (a), Imam al-Ridha (a) and Imam al-Jawad (a).

Imam Zadehs

There are many shrines throughout Iran, most of which house the graves of the revered children or descendants of the infallible Imams. These holy individuals are referred to as Imam Zadehs - literally, offspring of an Imam, and their sanctuaries serve as important centres of pilgrimage and spiritual devotion. Within Qum itself, there are over twenty Imam Zadehs, some being more famous than others, including:

  1. Ahmed bin Qasim, grandson of Imam Sadiq (a)
  2. Musa al-Mubarqa’, the son of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a)
  3. Hamzah, grandson of Imam al-Kadhim (a)
The gold and silver zarih over the grave of Ahmed bin Qasim inside his shrine in Qum, its green lattice panels lit beneath a decorated vault
The shrine of Ahmed bin Qasim (interior)
The exterior of the shrine of Musa al-Mubarqa' in Qum, its turquoise tiled dome rising beside a plain brick dome above a tiled portal
The shrine of Musa al-Mubarqa' (exterior)
The shrine of Ahmed bin Qasim (interior) and the shrine of Musa al-Mubarqa' (exterior)

A detailed list of Imam Zadehs and their burial sites can be found here.

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