Imamzadeh

An Imāmzādeh (, meaning Imām-born) is a word found in both the Persian and Urdu languages, that refers to an immediate descendant of a Shi'a Imam.

Imamzadeh means “offspring” or descendent of an imam. There are many other different ways of spelling this term. Some of these are imamzada, imamzadah, and emamzadah. These all have the same meanings.

Imamzadeh is also a term for a shrine-tomb of the descendents of Shi’i imams that are directly related to the Prophet Muhammad. These shrine-tombs are used as centers of Shi’i devotion and pilgrimages. These shrine-tombs are also believed to have miraculous properties and the ability to heal. Many of these are located in Iraq, Medina, and Iran. There are many important imamzadehs. Some of these are Fatima al-Masumah, the sister of Imam Ali ar-Rida the eighth imam, Zaynab, the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shii imam and Fatimah, the daughter of Musa al-Kazim, the seventh imam. Though imamzadehs are not traditionally women these are very important women in Shi’I Islam.

From early times Muslims made pilgrimages to the tombs of holy men. These pilgrimages include these imamzadehs. It has been advised for Muslims to visit the tombs that have been identified to show them the honor that they deserve. Many people visit the imamzadehs that are relatively close to them. There are also special ziyarat-namas (pilgrimages) for many of the imamzadehs. Some of these pilgrimages even happen annually during the certain time of year. Some of the imamzadehs are not a well kept as others. According to Reinisch an imamzadeh that he saw was mostly in ruins, though it is still important

Imamzadeh's

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