Mausoleum of Prophet Qeydar

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Mausoleum of Prophet Qeydar

| native_name = {{lang|fa|آرامگاه قیدار نبی}}

| native_name_lang = fa

| image = Gidar.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

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| map_type = Iran

| map_size = 250

| map_alt =

| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the mausoleum in Iran

| mapframe = yes

| coordinates = {{coord|36.11629|48.58542|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IR|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| religious_affiliation = Shia Islam

| location = Qeydar, Khodabandeh County, Zanjan province

| country = Iran

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| organisational_status = Mausoleum

| functional_status = Active

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| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Islamic architecture}}

| architecture_style = Ilkhanid

| founded_by = Bulughan Khatun (wife of Ghazan)

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| established = 1319 CE

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| dome_quantity = 1

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| site_area = {{circa}}{{cvt|120.35|m2}}

| temple_quantity =

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| shrine_quantity = 1: Qedar

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| materials = Brick, stone

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| module = {{Infobox historic site

| embed = yes

| image = Imam Zadeh and cemetery, Zengan by Eugène Flandin.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = An illustration of the tomb of Qedar by Eugéne Flandin, misidentified as an Imamzadeh structure

| designation1 = INHL

| designation1_offname = Mausoleum of Prophet Qeydar

| designation1_type = Built

| designation1_date = 1938

| designation1_number = 321

| designation1_free1name = Conservation organization

| designation1_free1value = Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran

}}

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}}

The Mausoleum of Prophet Qeydar ({{langx|fa|آرامگاه قیدار نبی}}) is a Shi'ite mausoleum located in the city of Qeydar in Khodabandeh County, in the province of Zanjan, Iran. It is believed by locals to be the burial place of Qedar, the son of Ishmael.

The mausoleum was added to the Iran National Heritage List in 1938 and is administered by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran.{{Cite web |last=Faqih Bahrul Uloom |first=Mohammed |date=26 September 2013 |title=The tomb of Kedar Nabi, alayhis salaam |url=http://shrines.ir/post/749/%D8%A2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%82%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%89%E2%80%8F-%D8%B9-%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87 |website=Tombs of Iran and the Islamic world}}

History

The original structure existed before the 14th century but was badly ruined.{{Cite news |date=28 August 1976 |title=The tomb of a prophet in Zanjan who was the successor of Hadhrat Ismail (Alayhis Salaam) + Pictures |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/05/28/1495619/%D8%A2%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1/amp |work=Tasnim News}} The present structure was built in 1319 under the orders of Bulughan Khatun, the wife of the Ilkhanid ruler Ghazan. In 1350, the building was restored and renovated with funding from a Sufi religious leader named Timur Khan Soltaniyeh. In modern times, between 1901 and 1902, the governor of Zanjan, Jahanshah Khan, restored the mausoleum.{{Cite web |title=History and name of the city from a historical perspective – Part A: Qeydar Nabi |url=http://khodabandehcity.com/moarrefi/nam.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902094558/http://khodabandehcity.com/moarrefi/nam.htm |archive-date=2 September 2007 |website=Khodabandeh City}}

Architecture

The mausoleum of Prophet Qeydar has an area of {{circa}}{{convert|120.35|m2}}, in a rectangular shape, its central chamber topped by a brick dome.{{Cite web |title=Tomb of Kedar Nabi – Property Details |url=https://zanjan.mcth.ir/en/Database/agentType/View/PropertyID/3118 |website=General Office of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Zanjan Province}} The entrance is on the southern facade. On the southern side of the shabestan is an early Nastaliq inscription dating from 1319, which details the construction of the new building by Bulughan Khatun.

Walnut wood embedded with gold and silver is used to construct the zarih that encloses the grave of Qedar in the central chamber of the mausoleum. Islamic calligraphy can be seen engraved in the tomb chamber as well. Aside from housing a tomb and prayer hall, the building includes a hostel for pilgrims as well as a basement that was used to rear cattle. There are rooms for the clerics to hold meetings.

Significance

The mausoleum is believed to entomb the remains of Qedar ben Ishmael, who was one of the sons of Ishmael and the progenitor of the Qedarites in biblical tradition.The Book of Genesis 25:13The Book of Isaiah 21:16–17The Book of Jeremiah 2:10Psalms 120:5 In Islamic tradition, which accepts the biblical narrative, adds on that Qedar is an ancestor of the prophet Muhammad, hence the importance of this tomb.{{Cite book |last=Mubarakpuri |first=Saifur Rahman |title=The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet |publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications |year=2008 |isbn=978-9960899558}} A historical copy of the Qur'an is also stored within the building; it is written on papyrus before being binded with a leather cover.