Tomb of Shah Shoja

🕰️When was it built?

Shah Shoja died in 786 AH (1384) and was buried here. In 1192 AH (1778), on the order of Karim Khan Zand, a new carved gravestone was placed on his grave, because the old one had been taken away. Today's dome was built in 1959 through the efforts of Ali Sami and the Society for National Heritage.

🏛️What was it built for?

It is a tomb. Shah Shoja had asked to be buried first in the lands of the Mosalla and for his body to be taken to Medina later. After his death his successors fell out with one another, his wish was never carried out, and he stayed here.

👀What you will see

• The blue dome with turquoise tiles, resting on four slanting columns of white stone.
• The platform on which the tomb stands, three steps above the ground.
• The gravestone from Karim Khan's time, with an inscription in nastaliq script in eleven lines.
• Poems by Shah Shoja and Hafez written on tiles inside and outside the dome.
• The brick building beside the tomb, which is now a library.

💡Something interesting

The Tomb of Shah Shoja was added to Iran's National Heritage List in late 1975 as number 11697. Ali Sami, who built its dome, also oversaw the rebuilding of the Hafezieh and the Saadieh.

🎒Good to know before you go

• It is near the Hafezieh, so you can see both on one outing.