City
3 sourced records · 3 verified locations
The atlas holds 3 sourced records for Mashhad; every record is published with scholarly review and a citation chain. Breakdown: 1 Ahl al-Bayt · 1 Successors · 1 Saints.
The eighth of the Twelve Imams, son of Imam Musa al-Kazim and descendant of the Prophet. Appointed heir-apparent by the Abbasid Caliph al-Ma'mun, he died in 203/818 at Sanabad near Tus; the site of his grave grew into the great pilgrimage city of Mashhad. His shrine is among the holiest sites of the Shia world and is also venerated by Sunnis. (Sources: TDV 'Ali er-Rızâ'; Wikidata Q1144695.)
A hadith-transmitting Successor and ascetic, one of the eight great ascetics of the age of the Successors. His full name is Abu Yazid al-Rabi' b. Khuthaym b. 'A'idh al-Thawri al-Tamimi al-Kufi . In Khurasan, where his grave lies, he is known as Khwaja Rabi' . He belonged to the Thawr b. 'Abd Manat tribe, which lived around Mount Athal near Mecca; his lineage reaches 'Adnan through Mudar. Although he lived in the Prophet's time he did not see him, and is therefore counted among the mukhadramun . He was one of 'Abd Allah b. Mas'ud's students in Kufa, learning from him exegesis, Qur'anic recitation, hadith and the literary sciences. He transmitted hadith from him and from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Layla and 'Amr b. Maymun, and transmitted from the Messenger of God in mursal form. Among those who transmitted from him were Ibrahim al-Nakha'i, Bakr b. Ma'iz al-Kufi, al-Sha'bi and his son 'Abd Allah. His reports are found in the Six Books except Abu Dawud's Sunan . The hadith critics speak of him with praise: al-Sha'bi called him “a mine of truthfulness”, and Yahya b. Ma'in said he was reliable (thiqa). It is related that he spoke very little, spent his nights in worship, gave what he had to the poor though he himself was in need, was never heard to say an evil word, did not backbite and was exceedingly humble. 'Abd Allah b. Mas'ud is said to have told him: “Abu Yazid! Had the Messenger of God seen you he would have loved you. Whenever I see you I remember the humble ones who stand in awe of God ( mukhbitin ).” The source also quotes some of his fine sayings: “Speak good, do good, persevere in righteous deeds. Life is short — do not let your heart grow hard! … If you have done an evil deed, follow it at once with a good one, for good deeds wipe out evil ones. … Sins are diseases, and their cure is repentance with no return.” He is recorded as having died between 62-65 (682-685); the reports on the cause of his death differ (see Multiple Views). His Tomb and Complex — His grave is in the city of Tus in Iran, on the bank of the Tus river. The Safavid ruler Abbas I built a tomb over his grave, and Reza Shah Pahlavi had it restored. The people of the region call him Khwaja Rabi' and visit his grave. According to the source, the location of his grave around Khurasan confirms the reports that he went there to fight.
