Investigation of Imam Reza (A.S.) Residence in Nishapur with emphasis on books of Oyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha (AS) and the history of Nishapur (Tarikh-i Nhshapur) as well as historical and archaeological evidences

Nishapur was one of the important cities where Imam Reza's (AS) stopped for a while on his way from Medina to Merv. Despite the plethora of research that have been done about the residence of that Imam, especially Hadith al-Silsilah al-Dhahab (Hadith of the Golden Chain) in Nishapur, no research has been done so far about the residence of the Imam, its location and the reason why he settled in this neighborhood and its fate. In addition, in some sources and research, including the book of Oyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha (AS), this neighborhood has been recorded in different and wrong ways. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze and study this neighborhood based on library sources, including the books of history of Nishapur(Tarikh-i Nishapur), and Oyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha (AS), as well as historical and archaeological evidence, using a descriptive-analytical method. Findings show that this neighborhood is called Fuz / Faz and was located in Qohandez of Nishapur, because Qohandez is one of the strongest and safest neighborhoods in the city and also in the easternmost direction. And the exit gate of Nishapur was located towards Merv and Tus. Therefore, government officials, considering that the Imam should reach Merv, the center of the Caliphate, in complete security and respect with less contact with the people, and faster, settled the Imam in the Fuz / Faz neighborhood, which had all the above conditions. Also, due to the destruction of this neighborhood by Arsalan Arghun and Ghuzs, Mongols and numerous earthquakes, as well as its extinction until the Timurid period, especially the Safavid period, the monuments of Imam Reza (AS) neighborhood have been abandoned and replaced by the current footsteps of Nishapur.