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Qom

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Qom is a major metropolis located in central Iran.

Qom panorama
Qom panorama

It serves as the capital of both Qom province and Qom County. The city sits on the banks of the Qom River. It is positioned to the south of the capital city, Tehran. Currently, Qom is the seventh largest city in Iran.

13 Chardin Qom
13 Chardin Qom

It is a vital center for religious scholarship and industrial activity.

The city holds immense spiritual importance in Shi'a Islam. It is the site of the shrine of Fatima bint Musa. She was the sister of Imam Ali ibn Musa Rida.

Fatima-Masuma-HS2
Fatima-Masuma-HS2

This sanctuary has grown into a magnificent and economically important site. Because of this holiness, Qom is a major destination for pilgrimage. Approximately twenty million pilgrims visit the city every year. Most of these visitors are Iranians, but others arrive from all over the world.

Qom's history reaches back to ancient times. Excavations at Tepe Sialk show the region was settled long ago. In antiquity, the area was a stronghold for the cult of Anahita. Anahita was the Iranian goddess of fertility.

Deire Gachin Caravansarai - Sasanian dating - Iran. Qom Province - Dayr-e Gachin 01
Deire Gachin Caravansarai - Sasanian dating - Iran. Qom Province - Dayr-e Gachin 01

Archaeologists have found many significant remains from the Seleucid and Parthian epochs. One famous site is the ruins of Khurha, located southwest of Qom. Experts debate its purpose. Some believe it was a Sasanian temple or a Seleucid Dionysian temple. Others, like Wolfram Kleiss, suggest it was a Parthian palace.

Qom panorama
Qom panorama

During the Sasanian epoch, the region was quite active. The first Sasanian king, Ardashir I, fought decisive battles near Qom. The city likely functioned as a small administrative unit during this era. It may have consisted of several connected villages and towns. These included settlements like Abaraštejān, Mamajjān, and Jamkarān.

Deire Gachin Caravansarai - Sasanian dating - Iran. Qom Province - Dayr-e Gachin 01
Deire Gachin Caravansarai - Sasanian dating - Iran. Qom Province - Dayr-e Gachin 01

The urban structure was likely tied together by defense installations.

The name of the city has different possible origins. Some researchers suggest the name comes from "Kom," meaning city. They link it to ancient names like Komiran, which might mean "Iran city."

Qom Seminary
Qom Seminary

However, a 10th-century book called Tarikh-i Qum offers another theory. It suggests the name roots in "Koomeh," which means hut. This refers to the reed huts used by local shepherds and farmers. These people lived near the ford of the Qom River.

Following the Arab conquest, the city underwent major changes. The first tentative conquest occurred around 644 AD. Later, groups of Ashaari Arabs moved to the region. They often opposed the Umayyad dynasty. These settlers bought land and took over local villages. A turning point occurred after the death of Fatima bint Musa in 816 AD. Her tomb became a central focus for the city.

Fatima-Masuma-HS2
Fatima-Masuma-HS2

This event helped Qom become a global center for Shi'a learning.

Today, Qom is a lively industrial and energy hub. Its proximity to Tehran helps drive this growth. The city is a regional center for distributing petroleum and petroleum products. Natural gas pipelines from Tehran and Bandar Anzali run through the area. A crude oil pipeline also travels from Tehran to the Abadan refinery.

The Grand Teemcheh
The Grand Teemcheh

Prosperity increased after oil was discovered at Sarajeh in 1956. A large refinery was built between Tehran and Qom. The Imam Khomeini International Airport is also located near the Tehran-Qom highway.

Qom panorama
Qom panorama
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🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:Azam Mosque.jpg
Azam Mosque.jpg
File:13 Chardin Qom.jpg
13 Chardin Qom.jpg
File:Fatima-Masuma-HS2.JPG
Fatima-Masuma-HS2.JPG
File:Deire Gachin Caravansarai - Sasanian dating - Iran. Qom Province - Dayr-e Gachin 01.jpg
Deire Gachin Caravansarai - Sasanian...
File:The_Grand_Teemcheh.jpg
The_Grand_Teemcheh.jpg
File:Qom_panorama.jpg
Qom_panorama.jpg
File:Qom-Azadari-Moharram4.JPG
Qom-Azadari-Moharram4.JPG
File:Jamkaran Mosque-3855.jpg
Jamkaran Mosque-3855.jpg
File:Mezquita del Imam Hassan Al-Asgari, Qom, Irán, 2016-09-19, DD 20.jpg
Mezquita del Imam Hassan Al-Asgari, Qom,...
File:ALGHADIR MOSQUE.JPG
ALGHADIR MOSQUE.JPG
File:QoranQomMuseum.jpg
QoranQomMuseum.jpg
File:Merkaz Modiria Hawzeha ye Ilmiyeh Qom.JPG
Merkaz Modiria Hawzeha ye Ilmiyeh Qom.JPG

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