The historical study of the tombs of the Qajar shahs, who buried in the shrine of Mahsouma

After Fatimah al-Ma’sûmah’s death in Qum, the city transformed into an important pilgrimage destination and a Shia center in Iran. After Shiism was established as state religion in Iran by Shah Ismail I, this city and its shrine came under the spotlight more than ever to the extent that after Shah Abbas I, all Safavid Shahs chose this shrine as their burial place. This choice, apart from the political attention the city received, caused many valuable monuments and architectural works to be added to the existing treasures of the shrine. This process also continued in the Qajar period and because of the proximity of Tehran, as the capital of Iran, to this city, two Qajar shahs, Fath-Ali Shah and Muhammad Shah, and many princes and courtiers chose the shrine as their burial place. Also existing the tombs of Safavid kings in Ma’sumah’s shrine can be one of the factors that the two Qajar shahs chose there for their burial place. Because studying and identifying the tombs of influential historical figures are among important historical debates, the present paper attempts to identify and investigate the mausoleums of Qajar Shahs in Qum relying on and using invaluable historical sources and comparing them with field observations. The study has employed field and library research, comparison and analysis of existing sources, especially first hand sources. In this historical study, after collecting the necessary data, they are organized, analyzed and finally conclusions are drawn.