The Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (Pbuh); a Symbol of Amalgamation of Shi’ah Religious Values and Islamic Art

Shiah art is derived from Shiites’ beliefs and in many venerations such as style and materials is analogous to Islamic art. One of the masterpieces of Shi’ah art is the construction of Shrines for holy tombs; these elaborate religious structures beautifully link Shi’ah principals to aesthetical features of art in general. Hence, the holy shrine of Imam Reza (Pbuh) in Mashhad reflects Shiites’ devotion and subsequently creates ties with Iranian art and culture. The present paper prospers to study the prominent symbols of the Shi’ah art qualitatively and quantitatively by use of a descriptive and analyitic study via studying the inscriptions, motifs and symbols of the five holy shrines of Imam Reza (pbuh). The research results, relying on the content elements of the carved and engraved texts on the enshrines and also Shiah religious beliefs, demonstrates how religious beliefs are manifested and furthermore certifies the exaltation and durability of the shrines.