Examining the Themes of Islamic Teachings in the Architectural Inscriptions of the Porticoes of the Ahl al-Bayt (as) shrine) A Case Study of the Shrine of Imam Riḍā (as) in the Timurid and Safavid Eras

The shrine of Ahl al-Bayt (as) has always been of special interest throughout history due to the interest and devotion of Muslims. In the meantime, the Timurid and Safavid governments, based on the testimony of historians, had a great influence in terms of the greatness and extent of the sphere of influence and built many buildings in the Ahl al-Bayt (as) shrine. During the Safavid era, many actions were taken to build, rebuild and expand the Ahl al-Bayt (as) shrine in Iran and Iraq, and they left behind valuable buildings. The architecture of Ahl al-Bayt (as) shrine complex includes various spaces, among which the portico space has a special place.  For this reason, the Timurid and Safavid governments have built many porticoes in Ahl al-Bayt shrine. Just as the architecture of this period originated from Islamic concepts, it is assumed that its inscriptions, as the highest type of decoration, originated from Islamic teachings. The purpose of this research is to identify the influence of Islamic teachings on the formation of the inscriptions of the portico of the shrine of Ahl al-Bayt (pbuh), and also to answer how Islamic teachings influence the formation of the architectural inscriptions of the portico of the Ahl al-Bayt, as well as to reinterpret their themes. In this research, due to the convenient access to the shrine of Imam Riḍā (a.s.), three porticoes in Darul Ḥifāẓ and Darul Salām from the Timurid era and one portico in Darul Fayḍ from the Safavid era were examined and analyzed in order to clarify the Islamic teachings of the inscriptions.