Mūsawī Sādāt of Mashhad and their Role in Managing the Holy Shrine of Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.)

Family descendants of Imam Mūsā al-Kāẓim (A.S.) through the progeny of Hamza b. Nūsā al-Kaẓim (A.S.) are among the Sādāt who entered Mashhad since fourth/tenth century and undertook the management of the Holy Shrine and the chieftainship of the Sādāt. They kept this important position toward the latter days of Timurid period. At this period, Sādāt Raḍawī, i.e. the progeny of Mūsā Mubarqa‘, son of Imam al-Jawād (A.S.) gradually began to replace the former, until the Safavid Shāh Tahmāsb I made some alterations in the Holy Shrine’s establishments and appointed some custodians there on his behalf. Although not appointed as custodians, Sādāt Raḍawī continued to hold positions in the Holy Shrine’s administration. This article tries to reconstruct the genealogy of Sādāt Raḍawī (descendants of Imam al-Riḍā – A.S.) and clarify the role of each one of them in the Holy Shrine’s establishment.