Among the other noble descendants buried in the northeastern section of the courtyard of Hazrat Abdol-Azim Hassani (pbuh), who each possess a well-structured shrine, is Imamzadeh Tahir (pbuh).
Imamzadeh Tahir, a descendant of Imam Sajjad (pbuh), is buried in Rey, and every day thousands of people from near and far come to visit him.
Razi, in his book The Life of Hazrat Abdol-Azim (pbuh), writes:
“Imamzadeh Tahir was among the scholars and authors of the early fourth century AH. He held a complete and dignified reputation in Rey, and the affairs of the people of the city were handled through his capable hands. He was a noble and highly esteemed sayyid, endowed with spiritual grace. His elevated status is evident from the fact that, after a thousand years, when his tomb was opened during the construction of the dome, his blessed body was found entirely intact, without the slightest change, as though he were merely asleep.”
The Noble Lineage of Imamzadeh Tahir (pbuh)
His noble lineage, with eight intermediaries, traces back to Imam Zayn al-Abidin (pbuh) as follows:
Tahir son of Muhammad son of Muhammad son of Hassan son of Hossein son of Isa son of Yahya son of Hossein son of Zayd son of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (pbuh).
All the ancestors of Imamzadeh Tahir were among the great figures and warriors of Islam and the Shia community.
The earliest historical source referring to his burial in Rey and his arrival in the city is authored by the fifth-century genealogist Allamah Abu Isma‘il Ibrahim ibn Nasr Abi-Tabataba, in Muntaqalat al-Talibiyyah, where he writes:
“Among those who entered Rey was Imamzadeh Tahir, son of Abu Tahir Muhammad al-Mabraq’, son of al-Hasan, son of al-Husayn al-Mabraqa’, son of Isa, son of Yahya, son of al-Husayn, son of Zayd al-Shahid. His lineage continued through a son named Muthahhar, whose mother was Zaynat, daughter of Abi ‘Amarah.”
The late Mulla Baqer Kajuri Mazandarani, in Jannat al-Na‘im, quoting Abu Nasr Bukhari (author of Sirr al-Ansāb), writes:
“This noble figure (Imamzadeh Tahir) was among those who entered Rey. He had a son named Muthahhar, and his lineage traced back to Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (pbuh).”
Is the Son of Imamzadeh Tahir (pbuh) Buried Beside Him?
No detailed documentation exists that fully introduces the life, migration, descendants, or personal details of Imamzadeh Tahir (pbuh).
Based on available evidence, it is probable that he migrated to Rey during the first half of the fourth century AH, along with his honorable father Muhammad Abu Tahir.
It is certain, however, that all of his ancestors were among the scholars, martyrs, jurists, leaders, and judges of the Islamic world.
Historical records indicate that Imamzadeh Tahir and his noble father were respected scholars and worshippers of their time, and the affairs of the people of Rey were managed through their capable efforts.
A contemporary author claimed that the son of Imamzadeh Tahir is buried beside him. This claim is unsupported.
The genealogist Allamah Abu Isma‘il Ibrahim ibn Nasr ibn Tabataba states only that Imamzadeh Tahir left one son named Muthahhar, whose mother was Zaynab, daughter of Abi ‘Amarah.
This does not suggest that the son is buried in the current shrine.
Rather, the existence of a separate shrine near Tehran named “Imamzadeh Muthahhar” indicates that the son is buried there, not beside his father.
Further supporting evidence:
- Jannat al-Na‘im, quoting Sirr al-Ansāb, also affirms that Imamzadeh Tahir had a son named Muthahhar.
- Ibn Taqtaqi, the seventh-century genealogist, states:
“They have descendants in Rey and Damascus…”
which confirms that descendants of Muhammad Abu Tahir settled in Rey.
Conclusion:
Muthahhar, son of Imamzadeh Tahir, was a scholar and notable figure of Rey, but he is not buried beside his father. His shrine stands separately near Tehran.
Accounts of Miracles (Karamat) of Imamzadeh Tahir (pbuh)
Miracle 1: The Story of Zill al-Sultan’s Blindness and Healing
Mas‘ud Mirza, known as Zill al-Sultan, son of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and ruler of Isfahan, once traveled to visit Hazrat Sultan Ali, son of Imam Baqir (pbuh), whose shrine is located near Kashan.
He requested access to the crypt (sardāb) where the bodies of the martyrs rested.
The caretakers warned him repeatedly:
“Everyone who enters the crypt and looks upon the bodies becomes blind.”
He dismissed this as superstition and insisted on entering.
He opened one of the coffins and saw the body completely fresh.
Fear overwhelmed him. As he tried to leave the crypt, he realized he could no longer see.
He returned to Isfahan and summoned physicians, but they were unable to help.
He traveled to Tehran, then to France, where even the skilled physicians offered no solution.
One night in France, he dreamt that he had come to Rey. After visiting Hazrat Abdol-Azim (pbuh), he went to the shrine of Imamzadeh Tahir, which at that time had no dome or proper structure. He sat in a corner, sorrowful and blind.
A noble man approached him and asked:
“Why do you sit here in grief?”
He replied:
“I am blind and waiting for my servants to return and take me away.”
That man touched Zill al-Sultan’s eyes with his hand and said:
“Your eyes see now. Rise, and do not forget us.”
He woke up with full eyesight restored.
Immediately, he telegraphed the officials in Tehran and ordered the construction of a proper shrine with a dome and an iron lattice (zarih) over the blessed grave of Imamzadeh Tahir.
Miracle 2: The Incorrupt Body
During the construction carried out under Zill al-Sultan’s order, the old structure was demolished and the grave was opened.
The blessed body of Imamzadeh Tahir was found completely fresh, untouched by decay, as though newly buried.
The grave was repaired, a shrine built, and an iron lattice placed over it. A tiled dome of approximately fifteen meters was constructed above it.
Religious texts emphasize that the preservation of certain bodies is a sign of divine favor. Examples from the Quran and hadith are cited, such as the story of Uzayr and the incorruptibility of the bodies of prophets and saints.
Miracle 3: The Testimony of Sheikh Muhammad-Taqi Bāfqī
During the early Pahlavi period, when Reza Shah enforced the policy of unveiling (kashf-e hijab), many scholars opposed it and were subsequently exiled or suppressed.
One such figure was the renowned scholar Sheikh Muhammad-Taqi Bāfqī, who was exiled to Rey.
His servant, Muhammad Isma‘il, recounts a miraculous encounter on Sheikh’s instruction:
He visited the shrine of Hazrat Abdol-Azim as usual.
Sheikh asked him:
“Do you also visit Imamzadeh Tahir?”
He said he only offered greetings from outside the entrance.
Sheikh instructed him firmly:
“Go inside the shrine. Visit him properly. And convey my greetings.”
When the servant did so, he stood before the zarih, recited the visitation (ziyarat), and silently said in his heart:
“O son of the Messenger of God, Sheikh sends you his greetings.”
Suddenly a clear voice from inside the zarih replied:
“Peace be upon you… peace be upon you… peace be upon you.”
Terrified, he searched the shrine but found no one.
When he returned and told the Sheikh, the Sheikh smiled and said:
“Remember, always visit Imamzadeh Tahir from inside.
And tell no one of this while I live.”
Description of the Shrine
The shrine of Imamzadeh Tahir was constructed during the reigns of Naser al-Din Shah and Mozaffar al-Din Shah, beginning in 1304 AH and completed around 1320 AH.
The inner chamber measures approximately 6×6 meters, with a large iron lattice over the blessed grave.
The walls bear paintings and plasterwork, along with poetry in his praise.
Above the chamber rises a dome approximately fifteen meters high, recently repaired due to aging tiles.
Visitation Prayer (Ziyarat)
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمن ِالرَّحيم
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ اَيُّهَا السَّيِّدُ الطّاهِرُ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ اَيُّهَا السَّنَدُ الظّاهِرُ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ اَيُّهَا التَّقِیُ الرَّضِیُّ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ اَيُّهَا الْمُتَّقِیُّ الْمَرضِیُّ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ اَيُّهَا الْعابِدُ الصّالِحُ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ اَيُّهَا الزّاهِدُ الفاتِحُ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يا سَليلَ الْاَئِمَّةِ الْمَعصوُمينَ الْهادينَ الْمَهدِيّينَ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يا خَلَفَ الْاَوصِياءِ الْمَرضِيّينَ ، اَشهَدُ اَنَّ لَکَ عِنْدَ اللهِ قَدْراً عَظيماً وَ شَأْناً رَفيعاً لِاَنَّهُ تَعالی اَظْهَرَ جَسَدَکَ الطَّيِّبَ وَ بَدَنَکَ الطّاهِرَ بَعْدَ مُضِیِّ قُروُنٍ مُتَطاوِلَةٍ وَ سِنينَ مُتَکاثِرَةٍ مِنْ حينِ ارْتِحالِکَ اِلي جَوارِ اللهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ قَدْرَکَ وَ مَنْزِلَتَکَ وَ مَنْزِلَةَ ابائِکَ الطّاهِرينَ وَ اَجدادِکَ الْمَعْصُومينَ عَلی مَنِ التَّبَعَکُم مِنْ شيعَتِکُمُ الْمُخْلِصينَ اِرْغاماً لِلْجاحِدينَ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يا سَيِّدی وَ مَوْلایَ يا طاهِرَبْنَ الْاِمامِ زَيْنِ الْعابِدينَ وَ عَلی رُوحِکَ وَ بَدَنِکَ وَ عَلَی الطّاهِرينَ مِنْ آبائِکَ وَ اَجْدادِکَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَ بَرَکاتُه .
