Imam Khomeini's Mausoleum

Imam Khomeini's Mausoleum

Imam Khomeini's Mausoleum: Located in the southern suburbs of Tehran, the construction of Imam Khomeini's Mausoleum began in 1989. From the outside, it resembles a grand mosque, resplendent and magnificent, with four minarets on the east, south, west, and north sides of the roof, each standing 91 meters tall—symbolizing the age of 91 at which Imam Khomeini passed away. The 72 gates of the shrine represent the 72 martyrs who lost their lives in the 1981 June 28 (Islamic calendar: 1360/04/07) attack on the headquarters of the Islamic Republican Party. Inside the shrine, there are 124 stone pillars spaced 22 meters apart, signifying the date of victory of the Iranian Islamic Revolution (Islamic calendar: 11/22). Each pillar is 12 meters high, representing the 12 Imams of Shia Islam. The tomb of Imam Khomeini is placed right in the center of the shrine, enclosed by iron railings, while the tomb of his son, Ahmad Khomeini, is situated nearby. Currently, shops, hospitals, and religious schools are being built around the mausoleum. The tomb of Imam Khomeini is not lavish, and is even somewhat modest. It is simply enclosed by iron fences, where visitors can place their donations through the gaps—the area is often piled high with money. The main shrine itself also functions as a mosque for conducting prayers, but it remains open to non-Muslims as well. The hall is covered with famous Persian carpets, and outside the hall there are basins for washing and restrooms. It allows Tehran’s poor and homeless to spend the night here. However, from such an important structure, it is now hard to find traces of the legendary craftsmanship of Persian and Arab artisans. Nevertheless, religion has ultimately demonstrated its tolerance here.