Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan: Photos, Architecture

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture. It was built by the prominent architect Sheikh Bahai in the early 17th century (from 1603 to 1619) under the order of Shah Abbas the Great- the 5th Safavid king. The starting date for the construction is visible on Reza Abbasi’s inscription on the main entrance. The mosque is located on the eastern side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest squares in the world 160 meters wide and 508 meters long) just opposite Ali Qapu Palace, Isfahan, Iran. Its northern side opens into the Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Visit the unique Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque When Traveling to Iran and enjoy its unique exquisite tile work.

Since the minarets have been used for the invitation of the public for saying prayers after Islam, this small private mosque- without any courtyard, minarets, and interior iwans- is believed to have been built for the women of the king’s harem. By Shah Abbas’s command, a tunnel was built from Ali Qapu Palace to the mosque, so that the females of the royal family did not have to walk across the square. They could reach the mosque without being seen in public. The guards protected the tunnel and the main entrance of the mosque and the doors were kept closed to avoid anyone to enter the building. The mosque was dedicated to Shah Abbas’s father-in-law, Sheikh Lutfallah, a revered Lebanese Islam scholar who died in 1622.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on the eastern side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Architecture

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is founded on a square ground plan that turns into an octagonal form in the upper parts and finally transforms into a circle by means of the squinches. This rectangle-to-circle transition plan evokes Sassanid architecture. Despite its simple structure, this small mosque is very rich in tile work and calligraphy. Moreover, the amazing play of light and color – coming through sixteen lattice windows around the lower part of the dome- will astound the enthusiastic visitors. The façade built with marble is decorated with seven-colored mosaics (called haft-rang tiles in Persian). The calligraphy was supervised by Ali Reza Abbasi, the famous Iranian master of calligraphy.

Due to the difference between the direction of Qibla and the main entrance of the building, the architect Mohammad Reza Isfahani designed an L-shaped hallway connecting the entrance and the sanctuary of the mosque. The structure lies at a 45-degree angle against the Naghshe Jahan square eastern wall. As a result, the dome (that is 32 m high and 12 m in diameter) and the main entrance iwan do not fall on the same axis, unlike other mosques.

Sheikh Lotfollah

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

The tilework of the mosque is one of the best examples of Persian Islamic architecture. It is deliberately asymmetrical. This asymmetry is interpreted as a deliberate attempt to show the imperfection of human construction against the flawless creation of God. There are blue ceramic spirals inside the mosque that frame semi-vaulted corners and end in vases carved out of marble. The dome is ornamented with cream-colored glazed and unglazed tiles that colors change from cream to pink during the day. Around the dome is decorated with white, deep blue, and azure arabesques outlined in black, the Quranic inscriptions in white Thuluth writing on a dark blue background, and different names for Allah in white Kufic writing outlined in black and turquoise. It is reminiscent of Persian rugs.  The way the lemon-shaped medallions inside the dome grow in size from the apex toward the drum makes the dome look taller and larger. One of the unique and remarkable features of the dome is the peacock-like shape at the center of its interior side. There is a hole in the ceiling that the sun’s rays pass through it. At certain times of the day, if you stand at the entrance of the hall, the sun’s rays seem like the tail of the peacock.

Isfahan Iran

The peacock-like shape at the center of the interior side of the dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

The thick walls of the mosque are covered with blue, turquoise, white, and yellow tiles. The tiles are adorned with intricate arabesque patterns and floral motifs. The Quranic verses appear in different corners while the east and west walls are ornamented with Sheikh Bahai’s poems. The inscriptions mostly emphasize Shi’ism. It is understandable, especially regarding the date of the construction and the efforts made by the Safavid king to consolidate Twelver Shi’ism in Iran contrary to the Sunni Ottomans. There is no question that the mihrab of the mosque is one of the most spectacular examples of beauty and intricate detail. This semi-vaulted mihrab directly opposite the entrance is also decorated with moaragh mosaic, fine muqarnas, and delicate arabesque patterns. Its inner side is also elaborately ornamented with muqarnas and floral motifs. In contrast to the splendid decorations of the mosque, its basement, including 16 pillars, enjoys a simple decoration of mono-color square tiles and plaster.

Persian architecture

Muqarnas in Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Shaykh Lutfallah Mosque is one of the most magnificent attractions of Isfahan. It enjoys such unique architecture and decoration that is definitely worth visiting on the tours to Iran.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Please read Things to do in Isfahan and Check out our Iran tours.

Why should IRAN be on your TRAVEL BUCKET LIST OF 2018?

Why You Should Travel to Iran? 8 Reasons to Visit Iran

If you love travelling to new places, Iran is a top destination. Iran, as the seventeenth largest country in the world and the second largest country in the Middle East enjoys a variety of cultural and natural attractions, delicious Persian foods, fascinating art works, breathtaking adventurous activities, famous poems and poets like Hafez, amazing events and festivals, different religious monuments, and so many other entertaining programs to appeal to tourists with many different interests.

Why should IRAN be on your TRAVEL BUCKET LIST OF 2018?

Iran enjoys a variety of cultural and natural attractions

Here are some of the reasons why Iran should be on your travel bucket list.

Iran is safe and affordable

Though the media has not portrayed a positive picture of Iran, the truth is that it is one of the safest and friendliest countries in the world. It is safe enough to welcome all nations even those solo travelers and women who love to travel by themselves. Moreover, Iran is one of the world’s most affordable destinations. The government has also eased the visa issuing progress. Therefore, travelers have more opportunities to visit this amazing country.

Iran has intact nature and ancient culture

Long history, outstanding architecture, elegant gardens, astonishing landscapes, and remarkable wildlife all represent Iran as a great destination to explore. With 22 cultural heritage and one natural sites inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, Iran is proud of its thousands year old historical and cultural attractions. It is the country of wind catchers, Persian gardens, museums, caravanserais, bridges, mausoleums, mosques, churches, and bazaars.

Susa, Shushtar Hydraulic System, and chogha zanbil in Khuzestan as the birthplace of the Elamites, and Burnt City dating back to 3200 BC in Sistan and Baluchestan are among Iran cultural and heritage sites.

Why should IRAN be on your TRAVEL BUCKET LIST OF 2018?

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System as a UNESCO World Heritage site

Iran also embraces mountains, deserts, forests, caves, canyons, rivers, and national parks. Ali Sadr Cave in Hamadan, Badab-e-Soort travertine terraces in Mazandaran, Kaluts of Shahdad in Lut Desert, and mangrove trees and Star Valley in Qeshm Island are only some of the natural attractions of Iran.

Iran is wonderful for adventure seekers

Surrounded by high peaks, roaring rivers, intense forests, vast deserts, large waterfalls, and deep canyons, Iran has the most inspiring places for adventure seekers from around the world. Rafting, hiking, biking, trekking, spelunking, caving, mountain biking, scuba diving, Safari expeditions, sand boarding, bird watching, and canyoneering are all the adventurous activities one can enjoy in Iran.

Why should IRAN be on your TRAVEL BUCKET LIST OF 2018?

Iran is wonderful for adventure seekers

Iran has fantastic festivals

As a historical country, Iran has a variety of festivals and ancient traditions. Nowruz, Mehregan, Yalda Night, and Chaharshanbe Suri are among the most famous ones held annually in Iran.

Nowruz known as the Persian New Year is celebrated worldwide by Iranians. Setting “Sofreh Haft Seen” is an interesting custom of Nowruz. It includes Seven (Haft) symbolic edible herbs and fruits all starting with the letter “Seen” in Persian Alphabet (pronounced as letter S in English), an ornamented mirror, Holy book, and a Divan of Hafez. Each of the fruits or herbs stands for a meaningful concept.

The autumn starts with the month of Mehr in Iran and its 16th day called “Mehregan” is the celebration of light, friendship, kindness, and love in Avestan calendar.

Shab-e-Yalda (Yalda Night) is one of the most ancient Persian festivals annually celebrated on December 21 by Iranians all around the world. It is the last night of autumn and the longest night of the year. On Shab-e-Yalda, people gather in groups of friends or relatives to pass the longest night of the year happily by eating nuts and fruits, reading Hafiz poems, making good wishes, and talking and laughing all together.

Why should IRAN be on your TRAVEL BUCKET LIST OF 2018?

Shab-e-Yalda is one of the most ancient Persian festivals

Chaharshanbeh Suri known as the Persian Festival of Fire is also celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz. In the evening of Chaharshanbeh Suri, people make bonfires and jump over the fire while symbolically ask the fire to take sickness away and bring about health.

Iran is great for religious Tourism

Iran enjoys diversity in religions. Many Islamic holy places such as Mashhad and Qom attract even non-Muslims because of their magnificent architectural features. As Iran has been the land of other religions before Islam such as Zoroastrianism and Christianity, there are many holy places related to those religions in different parts of Iran. Armenian Monastic Ensembles in West Azarbaijan province, Vank Cathedral in Isfahan, the Zoroastrian Pir-e-Sabz or Chak Chak pilgrimage place in Yazd, the Tomb of Daniel in Susa, and the Holy Shrine in Mashad all satisfy the spiritual needs of the followers of different religions.

Iran enjoys diversity in religions

Iran has opportunities for Halal Tourism

Halal tourism means providing travel in accordance with Muslim beliefs and practices such as serving no alcohol or pork products. Travelling around Iran provides peace of mind for Muslims, because foods are all halal. Kebabs and different kinds of stew, soup, and Persian rice dishes are the famous delicious Iranian foods. Iran could be a perfect destination for travelers who wish to spend their holidays with respect to their cultural and religious beliefs.

Why should IRAN be on your TRAVEL BUCKET LIST OF 2018?

Kebabs are among the most delicious Iranian foods

Iran is a proper option for Health Tourism

Iran’s highly equipped hospitals and rehabilitation centers offer a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities and treatment with experienced expert medical teams at reasonable costs. Treatment costs are much lower comparing to the developed countries, southeastern Asian countries, and Iran’s regional competitors such as the Persian Gulf States.

Iran has great potentials for MICE Tourism

Iran has also potentials for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibition) tourism. Since business travelers use travel services such as hotel facilities and other amenities like restaurants, souvenir shops and local tourist spots, all these sectors could be considered as an area for development and investment.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Check out our Iran tours.

Saadi Shirazi tomb

Saadi, the Great Persian Poet of All Time

Saadi Shirazi- Abu-Mohammad Muslih al-Din Shirazi- the great Persian poet of all time, was born in Shiraz in the 13th century. He is one of the most influential Persian poets of the medieval period, admired for his artistry in expressing the deepest moral and social thoughts in the simplest words for all ages. He is well-known as the “Master of speech” among Persian scholars and one of the best poets of classical Persian literature. His two outstanding literary masterpieces are Golestan and Bostan.
The exact date of his birth is not known. According to his qasida poems, he left home to explore the world in 1225, contemporary to the invasion of Mongols to Fars. In Golestan, composed in 1258, he addresses himself as a person who has lived 50 years, but he is still naïve and does not know much about life.

Saadi Shirazi

The tomb of Saadi in Shiraz

Saadi Shirazi Lifestory

After leaving Shiraz, he went to the Nezamiyeh University in Baghdad and studied Islamic sciences, theology, law, history, and Arabic literature. During his thirty-year journey, he had the opportunity to travel across Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. He also visited Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina. He wrote about his travels and adventurous life in both Bustan and Golestan. Master of Speech fought alongside Sufis against Crusaders in Halab, but they captured him at Acre and held him captive there for seven years. But like many of his other stories, such as traveling to India and Central Asia, it cannot be confirmed and is considered highly suspect. Without a doubt, he lived much of his life as a wandering dervish.

Who is Saadi?

Saadi was a man of learning and traveling. He met all kinds of people, from intellectuals, merchants, preachers, farmers, ordinary people, and survivors of the Mongol invasions to Sufi dervishes and even thieves living in remote areas far from the invaded regions. Saadi was able to study society and advise and preach to people to follow wisdom and morality. He finally came back to Shiraz before 1257 CE in his late forties, and it was the time that he finished the composition of his masterpiece called Bustan. His birthplace Shiraz was where he spent the remainder of his life and was greatly respected by the residents and ruler of the city. He passed away between 1291 and 1294 in Shiraz. He has been titled a Sheikh because of his depth of knowledge.

 

Saadi Poet

The tomb of the Persian poet Saadi displays traditional Persian architecture.

Saadi Shirazi Bustan

His best-known work Bustan (or Bostan), was completed in 1257. Bustan is entirely in verse. It includes 183 stories in ten chapters about the virtues such as justice, kindness, love, modesty, liberality, generosity, satisfaction, and happiness, and the ecstatic practices of dervishes addressing all people to have a better and happier life. Bustan was called Saadi Nameh in older versions. It contains about 4000 verses.

Golestan

His masterpiece Golestan was completed in 1258, a year after composing Bustan. It is mainly composed in prose. It includes 8 chapters, mainly about the kings’ morality, the dervishes’ behavior, the benefits of contentment, silence and talking in proper time, love and youthfulness, weakness in old age, and education. Interspersed among the stories are short poems. It is one of the most influential books in prose in Persian literature. Saadi attempts to advise people to live freely and improve their quality of life in Golestan. It contains different anecdotes, pieces of advice, and quotations. It can show the cultural and social conditions of the society at the time of Saadi very well. Some characters and stories are real, and some are fictional. It is one of the first Persian books made by a print machine in 1824 in Tabriz.

Saadi Persian Poet

Golestan can show the cultural and social conditions of the society at the time of Saadi very well.

Persian Language and Literature

Other works of Saadi include Ghazals (love poems or Lyrics; sonnets), Qasidas (longer mono-rhyme poems or Odes), Quatrains, and short pieces in prose in both Persian and Arabic. He is known as one of the greatest ghazal-writers of Persian poetry besides Hafez. Many scholars believe the best ghazals are from Saadi and Hafiz. Saadi has about 700 ghazals, mostly with the essence of love and some with mysticism sermons. He uses irony in his works to represent and criticize the deficiencies and corruptions in the society of his time.

The Greatest Ghazal Poet

The ghazals of Saadi are collected in four groups: Old Sonnets (written in his youth); Tayebat and Badaye (written in his middle age); and Khavateem (written in his old days). Most experts believe Saadi’s Old Sonnets are about earthy love, while his Khavateem is more about mystical love, as well as ethics and piety. According to this dichotomy, they guess Saadi practically passed the earthy love to the mystical love during the different stages of his life.

Saadi’s Artistic Style of Writing

Saadi elaborately distinguishes between spiritual and mundane aspects of life in his works. He tries to visualize the deepest meanings of life in the most tangible contexts and close to conversational language as far as possible in a way that even common people can get the most out of his writings. Saadi’s writing style is called Saj’ in Persian and Arabic, and it is a kind of prose characterized by rhythm as well as rhyme. This artistic style of writing reaches its peak in Saadi’s Golestan. His prose style is described as simple but impossible to imitate.

Saadi Iranian Poet

Visuals of the tomb of Saadi Shirazi at night

Saadi Shirazi Poems

The writing style of Saadi undoubtedly had a huge influence on Persian literature and many great poets who followed him. There is a surprising similarity between his language and modern Persian. After about eight centuries, his works are still easy to understand and admirable in different languages. Many of the Persian proverbs have been taken from his works. Translations include “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, “what can you expect from a hog but a grunt?” and “Haste makes waste.” Among the well-known western poets who translated Saadi’s works are Goethe and Andre du Ryer- the first European who presented Saadi to the west for the first time in 1634. Golestan was translated into Latin in 1651. Sir Richard Francis Burton translated Golestan into English for the first time.

In one of the most well-known immortal poetries of Saadi, he considers all humans as different parts of a whole body, regardless of social barriers and race:
Human beings are members of a whole,
In the creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of a human you cannot retain.
This poem conveys such a deep humane universal concept that is printed on the ten-thousand-Rial bill to remind everyone of the love and peace in everyday life.

Persian Poet Saadi

Saadi’s poem printed on the ten-thousand-Rial bill

Tomb of Saadi

It is one of the major tourist attractions in Shiraz to visit his mausoleum, also known as Saadieh. It is located in a beautiful garden beside Delgosha Garden (dating back to the Sassanid era). The tomb was built in the 13th century. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the 17th century. The present-day building was built between the years 1950 and 1952. It was inspired by Chehel Sotoun and built by the architect Mohsen Foroughi. Many Persian elements have been used in its architecture. It is also a National Heritage Site. It is visited annually by thousands of visitors who respect him and adore the eloquence in his works. Most of the tours to Iran include Saadieh in their itineraries while visiting Shiraz during their travel to Iran. To commemorate Saadi, 21 March is celebrated as the National Day of Saadi in Iran every year.

Are you planning to travel to Iran? Please read Things to do in Shiraz and Check out our Iran tours.