Brief Introduction of the Qum Province
According to some historical records the city of Qum was in existence before the advent of Islam and was one of the prosperous cities in Iran. Some have considered it belonging to the pre-Islamic era of Tahmwars but many historians claim that it was built during the first century hijrah.
The oldest source which mentions that Qum was built in the Islamic era is the travel account related to Abi Dalf.
This region in the ancient period was called as Barawastan and its rural segment was known as Kamidan and the central area of this rural segment was called Kam. In the first century hijrah this city was called as Kam and was considered as a part of Isfahan area. Qum city was liberated by Islamic combatants in 23 A.H. and the people of this area embraced Islam and followed the Shi'ite creed from the beginning.
In the year 94 A.H., the Ashari tribesmen settled in Qum and played an important role in building and expanding the city. From 142 A.H. they abstained from paying taxes to the ruling caliphs and since then Qum emerged as a semi-autonomous region in the heart of the Islamic world. In the year 189 A.H.. Qum separated from the Isfahan region and became an independent city and obtained a special place in training Shi'ite scholars and jurisprudents.
After the burial of Hadrath Masoumah (A.S.) in Qum it prospered quickly and turned into a safe haven for the Shi'ites and lovers of the Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.). Since then the people started constructing their residential units near the holy shrine of Hadrath Masoumah (A.S.) for the purpose of getting easy access to the ziyarah of the holy grave. Many leading scholars and Ulama also settled in the vicinity of the holy shrine of Hadrath Masoumah (A.S) and played a great role in the propagation and spread of Islam.
During different phases of history, the holy and religious city of Qum has suffered great losses at the hands of the tyrants and during many invasions this city was pillaged and plundered and its inhabitants were massacred. During the last century Reza Khan and his son of the Pahlavi dynasty perpetrated inhuman crimes in the city but the emergence of the Islamic revolution under the dynamic leadership of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) gave a new life to the city and it turned into a centre of the Islamic revolution.
The 9th January 1978 uprising of the people of Qum is considered as a honour of distinction for the city in history because it strengthened the Islamic revolution. After the victory of the Islamic revolution and imposition of the eight years long war on Islamic Republic of Iran, this city dedicated 5200 martyrs and 7600 disabled in the imposed war. At present, under the leadership of the supreme leader of Islamic revolution Hadrat Ayatullah al-Uzma Khamenei it is playing a leading role in successfully combatting the internal and external cultural aggression against the sublime values of Islam and is endeavouring to pave the way for the glad reappearance of Imam Mahdi (May Allah (SWT) hasten his reappearance). Insha'Allah.
Geographical Conditions of Qum
Qum province occupies an area of 11238 sq. kms and is located in the central part of Iran. This province is connected to Tehran province in the north, to the Semnan province in the east, to the Isfahan province in the south and to the Markazi province from south-west to north-west.
This province occupies less than one percent of the total area of Iran and is the twenty-eighth and the smallest province in the country. The altitude of the centre of the province is 928 metres above the sea level, the mountainous region of Kuh Valija occupies the highest altitude in the province with 3330 metres above the sea level and the Salt Lake of the province is the low lying region with an altitude of 700 metres above the sea level.
The present population of the city is estimated about one million. According to the administrative division of the country the province comprises of one city, 5 towns, 4 districts and 936 habitations out of which 356 are populated.
Sight-Seeing Places in Qum
Masjid-i Azam
One of the great religious monuments built by the Great Marjah Ayatullah al-Uzma Burujerdi (R.A.) is the Masjid-i Azam which was built adjoined to the holy shrine of Hadrath Masoumah (A.S.).
The foundation stone of this great mosque was laid on 11th Zee al-Qa'adah, the auspicious birthday anniversary of Hadrat Imam Ali bin Musa al-Reza (A.S.) corresponding with 22nd June, 1954 in a special ceremony.
The construction of the mosque was completed in 1961 and since then congregational prayers and other religious ceremonies are regularly held in this mosque. This mosque is built in the Islamic architectural style and consists of four prayer halls and three towering balconies. The large dome of the mosque has a diameter of 30 metres and its height above the roof of the mosque is 15 metres and 35 metres from the basement of the mosque. The minarets of the mosque are 25 metres above the roof of the mosque are 25 metres above the roof of the mosque and 45 metres from the basement of the mosque. The upper part of the minarets has special section for the purpose of call to prayers (A'zaan) with a height of 5 metres. A towering clock tower with a big clock is located in the north of the mosque and this tower can be seen from all the four sides of the mosque.
The years after the victory of the Islamic revolution the number of pilgrims to the holy shrine of Hadrath Masoumah (A.S.) has rapidly increased and to create spaces for the pilgrims the wall barrier between the Masjid-i Azam and Masjid-i Bala Sar was removed in the year 1992 and the organization of the holy shrine is rendering all the necessary services in this great mosque.
With the approval of the Supreme Leader Ayatullah al-Uzma Khamenei, the upkeeping and maintaining the mosque has been delegated to the organization of the holy shrine which bears all the maintaining and upkeeping expenses and pays the wages to the attendants of the mosque without interfering in the endowment affairs of the mosque.
Masjid-i Azam has now become central place for the students of the Islamic seminaries and most of the grand Marjah deliver their lectures in this great mosque which are attended by a large number of tullab.
The daily congregational prayers in this mosque is conducted in a grand way. The organization of the holy shrine have provided necessary welfare and hygiene facilities near the mosque for the facility of the pilgrims of the holy shrine.
Bait al-Nour ( The House of Light)
In the Maidan-e Meer locality situated in the Ammar-e Yasir avenue there is an Islamic seminary famous as Madrasa Mubarak Sittiyah, which was the place of residence of Hadrat Fatima Masoumah (A.S.) in Qum. Her Holiness (A.S.) after her arrival in Qum was ill and stayed alive for only seventeen days. She stayed in this place which was during that time the residence of Musa bin Khajraj. There was a mihrab (prayer niche) in that place where Her Holiness (A.S.) performed her prayers and worship.
The Residence of Imam Khomeini (R.A.)
The residence of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) is located in Yaqchal Qazi locality in the Muallim Avenue. It consists of two floors, the cellar and the ground floor. The courtyard is situated in the south of the residence and north-east of it has roofed spaces. The staircase of the building divides it into two parts, the outside part (the eastern gate) and inside part ( the western gate). The hall in the eastern side was the meeting place and guest room for the visitors. This house was built more than eighty years ago and was bought by Imam Khomeini (R.A.) in 1956 and he resided in it till 1964, when he was exiled from Iran. This building is preserved as a memorial and large number of people daily visit this house. On the religious occasions special ceremonies are regularly conducted in this house.
Madrasa Faiziyah
It is one of the famous Islamic seminaries in the world. In the first half of the thirteenth century hijrah it was built in the place of Madrasa Astana which was constructed in the middle of the sixth century hijrah. This Islamic seminary consists of four balconies and has two floors. The lower floor consists of 40 chambers constructed during the Qajar period and 40 chambers in the upper floor were built in the fourteenth century hijrah by the orders of Ayatullah Haeri Yazdi. Its southern balcony is the oldest part of the Islamic seminary, which was built in 929 A.H. and is decorated with beautiful glazed tiles. This balcony is connected to the Atiq courtyard of the holy shrine and from here there is a gateway to the Atiq courtyard of the holy shrine.
Masjid Jameh
The Jameh mosque of Qum is a double balcony mosque in rectangular form. The dome and its basic structure were built in the first half of the sixth century hijrah.
This mosque after the Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) mosque is the oldest mosque in Qum. According to authentic historical sources the dome of the mosque was built in 529 A.H. The name of Fath Ali Shah is inscribed in the stucco work of the mosque. The towering balcony in the south of the mosque with its colourful stucco work belongs to the Safavid period and the northern balcony and the prayer halls in the eastern and western sides of the mosque were built during Qajar era.
The Great Qum Arcade
The great Qum arcade is situated in the north of the Bazaar and is considered as one of the masterpieces of Islamic architecture. It was built by master artisan of the Naser al-Din Shah Qajar's reign by name Hasan Qummi in the year 1301 A.H.
The founder of this great monument was late Haj Sayyid Mahmud Tabatabai, the famous merchant of Qum who was also the father of late Haj Agha Husain Tabatabai Qummi. This great arcade has two openings to the New Bazaar and consists of three big domes and two half domes. The central part of the arcade has a breath of 15 metres and its length is 28 metres without any pillars. The domes of the arcade are in the form of a skull cap and its interior is ornamented with conventional fastening. The arcade consists of 20 pavilions in the ground floor and 12 pavilions in the first floor. In the past it was decorated with beautiful juniperus doors and windows but unfortunately at present only its models are remaining.
Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) Mosque
In the beginning of Astane Avenue and beside the river side there is a big mosque related to Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.), the eleventh Imam of the Shi'ites. It was built in the third century hijrah by Ahmad bin Ishaq Qummi, the legal representative of Imam Hasan Askari (A.S.) upon the orders of the Holy Imam (A.S.).
In this mosque the great jurisprudent Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Khansari delivered his lessons and great personalities like Imam Khomeini (R.A.) and Ayatullah Araki (R.A.) attended these classes.
Introduction of the Shrines of the Descendants from the Holy Imams (A.S.) in Qum
The holy city of Qum was always a centre of the Shi'ites but after the burial of Hadrat Fatimah Masoumah (A.S.) in this city the prominent personalities from the descendants from the Holy Imams (A.S.) settled in this city. In this holy city 444 Imamzadeh [the descendants from the Holy Imams(A.S.) are buried and famous among them are as follows:
Imamzadeh Ahmad and his son
Imam Musa Sadr Avenue, al-Hadi Square.
Imamzadeh Ahmad bin Muhammad Hanafiyah
15th Khordad Boulevard.
Imamzadeh Jamal and Jafar Gharib (A.S.)
Kashan Road, near the Bagih Cemetery.
Imamzadeh Hamzah
Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue, opposite Kohne Square.
Four Imamzadehs, Hussain and his three sons Hasan, Muhammad and Muhsin
15th Khordad Boulevard.
Imamzadeh Sayyid Sarbaksh (A.S.) [Ismail]
Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue, opposite Chehel Akhtaran.
Imamzadeh Sayyid Jamal al-Din (A.S.) [Shah Jamal]
Arak Avenue, Beginning of the Motorway Ring Road.
Imamzadeh Sultan Muhammad Sharif (A.S.)
Inquilab Avenue, opposite Char Mardan mosque.
Imamzadeh Ibrahim and his father Muhammad
Neeru Hawai Avenue, Shah Ibrahim.
Imamzadeh Shah Ahmad bin Qasim (A.S.)
Sumaiyyah Avenue, Muallim Square.
Imamzadeh Shah Jafar (A.S.)
Neeru Hawai Avenue, Shah Ibrahim.
Imamzadehs Chehel Akhtaran
Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue.
Imamzadeh Shah Sayyid Ali (A.S.)
15th Khordad Boulevard, Shaheed Saduqi Square.
Imamzadeh Ali bin Jafar (A.S.)
Imam Husain (A.S.) Square, Gulzar-e Shuhada.
Imamzadeh Sayyid Abdullah Abyaz (A.S.)
(Qila Dadri), Neeru Hawai Avenue, After the Motorway.
Imamzadeh Ali Musa al-Reza (A.S.)
Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue, opposite Nakuee Hospital.
Imamzadeh Musa Mabarkha (A.S.)
Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue, Chehel Akhtaran.
Imamzadeh Nasir al-Din (A.S.)
Ayatullah Taleghani Avenue, Bazaar Square.
Important Telephone Numbers
General Information : 118
Booking : 126
Telecommunications Public Relations : 135
Tele-Post : 193
Post Office : 140
Alarm Clock : 119
Police Message Centre : 110
Police Headquarters : 116
Police Information : 146
Traffic Accidents : 197
Anti-Narcotics Campaign Headquarters : 128
Secretariat of Anti-Narcotics Campaign
Headquarters : 120
Criminal Investigation Department :130
Enjoining Righteousness Headquarters : 145
Metropolitan Court's Security Office : 195
News Headquarter of Information Office : 113
Revolutionary Guards' Information Office : 114
Inspectorate Office Information : 124
Emergency Centre, Qum : 115
Fire Brigade Office : 125
Electricity Board : 121
Meteorology Office : 134
Para-Medical Advisor : 148
Wireless Taxi, Qum: :133
Road & Transport Office : 141
Voice of the Holy Qur'an : 144
Data Switch : 190
Offices & Organizations Telephone Numbers
Governor General of Qum Province
Saheli Avenue
Tel. No: 7716201
Iran's Tourism Organization
Saedi Square
Tel. No : 6621577
Pilgrim's Facilities Headquarters
Shaheed Montazeri Boulevard
Tel No: 7744635
Education Department
Ameen Boulevard
Tel No: 2937541-4
Urban Bus Services
Tehran-Qum Old Road
Tel No: 6620308-11
Endowments Department
Imam Husain (A.S.) Square
Tel No: 7756201-3
Inspectorate Directorate
Tel. No: 6607088-9
Vigilance Office
Tel No: 6619060-1
Taxi Organization
72 Tan Square
Tel. No: 6656556
Railway Station
Istgah Avenue
Tel. No: 6617141-5
Islamic Propagation Organization
Astane Square
Tel. No : 7740372-5
Municipal Corporation of Qum
Saheli Avenue
Tel. No: 7704001
Radio & Television Office
Ameen Boulevard
Tel. No: 2939040-2
Culture & Islamic Guidance Office
Muallim Avenue
Tel. No: 7737412
Culture Heritage Department
Inqilab Avenue
Tel. No: 7736082
City Administrator's Office
Jihad Square
Tel. No: 7711524
Postal Department
72 Tan Square
Tel. No: 6658439
Post Bank
Imam Avenue
Tel. No: 7757541-3
Martyrs Foundation
Shaheed Fatemi Avenue
Tel. No: 7736995-6
Mostazafan & Janbazan Foundation
15 Khordad Boulevard
Tel. No: 7716926
Special Branch of Police
Tel. No: 7736724
15 Khordad Foundation
Ayatullah Marashi Avenue
Tel. No: 7743085
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