An Iranological View of Imamzadehs: A Case Study of Imamzadeh Hassan in Karaj

Religious sites, particularly imamzadehs (shrine-tombs of the descendants of Imams) and holy mausoleums, have always been among the most stable religious centers of Shi’ites. Such places have continually attracted the attention of the lovers of the offspring of the Infallible Imams (a) in different periods at varying levels of intensity since the rise of Islam. Presently, imamzadehs are not merely considered to be some sacred shrines visited by pilgrims and religious centers; rather, their history, identity, and locations provide plenty of information. In fact, such places function as the cradle of various political and cultural changes in the contemporary period. This case study focuses on Imamzadeh Hassan in Karaj. Following an Iranological approach, the researcher has explored the location of this mausoleum, the identity of its owner, its history, the present architecture of this structure and the structures added to it, as well as its pilgrims and the oblations it receives, the people buried there, its founders, the artists who decorated it, and its custodians. This research was conducted based on a descriptive-analytic design, and the required data were collected through field studies and oral interviews as well as through benefitting from library sources and documents.