Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble

Sheikh Safi, a leader of an Islamic Sufi order established by the Safavids, was born in Ardabil where this complex is located. The Safavids valued the tomb-mosque form, and the tomb with its mausoleum and prayer hall is located at a right angle to the mosque. The buildings in the complex surround a small inner courtyard (31 by 16 meters). The complex is entered through a long garden.{{cite book|last=Ching|first=D.K.|title=A Global History of Architecture|url=https://archive.org/details/globalhistoryofa0000chin|url-access=registration|year=2007|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc.|location=Hoboken, New Jersey|isbn=978-0-471-26892-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/globalhistoryofa0000chin/page/479 479]}}

File:Şeyx Səfi komleksinin planı-001.jpg

The Mausoleum of Sheikh Safi, in Ardabil, was first built by his son Sheikh Sadr al-Dīn Mūsā, after Sheikh Safi's death in 1334.[http://www.kufic.info/architecture/allahdome/allahdome.htm Square Kufic] It was constructed between the beginning of the 16th century and the end of the 18th century. The mausoleum, a tall, domed circular tower decorated with blue tile and about 17 meters in height; beside it is the 17th-century Porcelain House preserving the sanctuary's ceremonial wares. Also part of the complex are many sections that have served a variety of functions over the past centuries, including a library, a mosque, a school, mausolea, a cistern, a hospital, kitchens, a bakery, and some offices. It incorporates a route to reach the shrine of the sheikh divided into seven segments, which mirror the seven stages of Sufi mysticism. Various parts of the mausoleum are separated by eight gates, which represent the eight attitudes of Sufism.[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1345 Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil - UNESCO World Heritage Centre][http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=224084 tehran times : Two more Iranian sites added to UNESCO World Heritage List]

Dast.jpg|An etched figure of a giant hand, in Safi-ad-Din Ardabili Mausoleum, showing Twelver Shi'a sign of Panj-tan-e Āl-e Abā

File:Ya Mannan , Ya Hannan stone.JPG|A decorative stone sculpture of Safavid era, decorated with attributes of God (reading ya hannan, ya mannan) (O merciful, O generous )

The present complex, called the tomb of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili, includes the outside of the tomb, the portal, the great courtyard, the portico, the grave of Sheikh Safi al-Din itself, the Women-only space (Andaruni, a term used in Iranian architecture), the grave of shah Ismail I, Chini-house which has beautiful Stuccos and several precious wooden and silver doors, the Janatsara Mosque, Khanqah, cheraqkhaneh (house of lights), Chellehkhaneh (a praying room), the burial ground of the martyrs and other belongings.{{cite book |last1=Correia |first1=Antónia |last2=Kozak |first2=Metin |last3=Rodrigues |first3=Ana Isabel |title=Experiencing Persian Heritage: Perspectives and Challenges |date=6 September 2019 |publisher=Emerald Group Publishing |isbn=978-1-78754-812-1 |page=38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IwSqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA38 |language=en}}

The tomb of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili is a cylindrical tower topped off with a short dome. Beneath the dome, there is a vault that is one of the valuable works of the tomb, and around the edge of it, there is an inscription carved in the Reqa style calligraphy.

One of the unique features of the tomb of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili is that it contains several valuable works of art on different themes of art, including the perfect type of mosaic tiles, vaulted tiling with painting, Stuccos, beautiful precious inscriptions, and the wonderful calligraphy of the greatest calligraphers of thd Safavid era (Mir Emad Hassani, Mir Qavamoddin, Mohammad Ismail, etc.), precious wood-carvings, silversmithing, illuminated manuscripts and goldsmithing, paintings, using a different style of stonework, etc.{{Cite web|url=http://in2iran.com/2019/05/21/sheikh-safi-al-din-ardabilis-shrine/|title=Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili's Shrine - in 2 iran UNESCO World Heritage List|date=21 May 2019}}

File:Sheikh_Safi_Al_Din_Ardabili_Tomb.jpg|View of tomb in 2022

File:Sheikh Safi Al din Tomb.jpg|Sheikh Safi Al din Tomb

File:The mausoleums of Sheikh Safi.jpg|Mausoleums with blue tiles

File:Sheykh safi01.jpg|The inner courtyard and the mosque

File:Sheikh Safi al-Din Tomb- Ardebil - Azarbaijan Province of Persia - 2009.jpg|Persian Islamic art on the Iwan at the tomb

File:سقف مقبره شیخ صفی‌الدین.jpg|Ceiling of the tomb

File:Sheikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili Statue.jpg|Statue of Sheikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili

File:کتابخانه ی مقبره ی شیخ صفی الدین.jpg|Library

File:نمای گنبد از مشهد پشت بنا.jpg

{{Reflist}}

http://www.irantourismcenter.com/?page_id=7130

• {{cite journal |last1=Melville |first1=Charles |title=Shah ʿAbbas's Patronage of the Dynastic Shrine at Ardabil |journal=Muqarnas Online |date=2020 |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=111–138 |doi=10.1163/22118993-00371P05}}

{{commons category|Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble}}

• [http://www.virtualtourengine.com/tour.aspx?id=5 Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili's Mausoleum Virtual Tour]
• [http://www.tishineh.com/touritem/359-11/a More Pictures, Tishineh]

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{{Ardabil Province}}

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Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 18th century

Category:Tourist attractions in Ardabil province

Category:World Heritage Sites in Iran

Category:Mausoleums in Iran

Category:Buildings and structures in Ardabil

Category:Safaviyeh order

Category:Safavid dynasty

Category:Buildings and structures on the Iran National Heritage List