Shah Cheragh Shrine, located on Lotf Ali Khan Street in Shiraz, is one of Iran’s most breathtaking Islamic landmarks. Famous for its dazzling architecture, intricate mirror decorations, and spiritual significance, it attracts pilgrims and tourists from around the world.
Hazrat Shah Cheragh, also known as Ahmed ibn Musa, was the son of Imam Musa and the brother of Imam Reza. On his way to visit Imam Reza in Khorasan, he was tragically killed in Shiraz by the soldiers of Ma’mun. The name “Shah Cheragh” translates to “King of the Light.”
Legend tells that before Adud Al-Dawla’s reign, an elderly woman saw a mysterious light above his grave every Thursday night. She alerted the king, who discovered that the light marked the resting place of Hazrat Ahmed.
The shrine dates back to the Buyid dynasty and was constructed between 308–328 SH by Adud Al-Dawla. During the Atabeg era (605–640 SH), a dome with a portico was added over five years. In 723 SH, Tashi Khatun commissioned a magnificent tomb for Hazrat Shah Cheragh.
Over the centuries, the shrine has survived earthquakes and undergone multiple restorations. Notable additions include a large gold chandelier (1108 SH), a silver door (1251 SH), and elaborate mirror work completed in 1266 SH.
The shrine has seven entrances: southern doors for men, northern doors for women, one golden entrance, and two east-facing porches (Ivans). The first Iwan, dating back to the Qajar era, is 38.3 meters high and 5.5 meters wide, with ten columns of 10.5 meters. Adjacent are 12 two-story rooms decorated with intricate stucco.
The dome, repaired multiple times, features colorful tiles in black, cream, green, brown, yellow, white, turquoise, azure, and gold, creating a visually striking centerpiece.
The Zarih, an ornate silver lattice over the holy grave, is engraved with Persian and Arabic poems honoring the Shia Imams. It measures 3.58 meters in height and 2.26 meters in width.
The shrine complex also houses the grave of Muhammad, another son of Imam Musa, within the same courtyard. The Shah Cheragh Museum on the south side exhibits over 3,000 manuscripts, historical documents, and around 8,000 artifacts from prehistory to the present.
Shah Cheragh Shrine is open 24/7, welcoming pilgrims and tourists at any time.
Learn more about the history and significance of Shah Cheragh Shrine at the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
