Qom
| Qom قم | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
 | |
| | |
| Coordinates: 34°38′24″N 50°52′35″E / 34.64°N 50.87639°ECoordinates: 34°38′24″N 50°52′35″E / 34.64°N 50.87639°E | |
| Country |  Iran |
| Province | Qom |
| County | Qom |
| Bakhsh | Central |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 957,496 |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) |
Qom (Persian: قم , also known as Q'um or Ghom) is a city in Iran. It lies 156 kilometres (97 mi) by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River.
Qom is considered holy by Shi`a Islam, as it is the site of the shrine of Fatema Mæ'sume, sister of Imam `Ali ibn Musa Rida (Persian Imam Reza, 789–816 AD). The city is the largest center for Shi'a scholarship in the world, and is a significant destination of pilgrimage.
Geography
Qom is counted as one of the focal centers of the Shi'a both in Iran and around the globe. Since the revolution the clerical population has risen from around 25,000 to more than 45,000 and the nonnclerical population has more than tripled to about 700,000. Substantial sums of money in the form of alms and Islamic taxes flow into Qom to the ten marja-i taqlid or "Source of Imitation" that reside there. The number of seminary schools in Qom is now over 50, and the number of research institutes and libraries somewhere near 250.
Its theological center and the Fatima al-Masumeh Shrine are prominent features of the provincial capital of Qom province. Another very popular religious site of pilgrimage formerly outside the city of Qom but now more of a suburb is called Jamkaran.
Qom's proximity to Tehran, Iran's capital, has allowed the clerical establishment easy access to monitor the affairs and decisions of state. Many grand ayatollahs hold offices in both Tehran and Qom; many people simply commute between the two cities as they are only 156 km apart.
South East of Qom is the ancient city of Kashan. Directly south of Qom lie the towns of Delijan, Mahallat, Naraq, Kahak, and Jasb. The surrounding area to the east of Qom is populated by Tafresh, Saveh, and Ashtian and
History
Qom as an urban settlement existed in the pre-Islamic ages. Architectural discoveries indicate that Qom was a residential area from the 5th millennium BC. Pre-Islamic remaining relics and historical texts point to the fact of Qom being a large regional city. Kum was known to be the name of this ancient city, thus, the incoming 7th century Arabs called it Qom during the conquests of Iran.
During the caliphate of ʻUmar ibn al-Khattāb, the area of Qom fell to the invading Arab armies of Islam. In 645 AD, Abu Musa Ash'ari also dispatched forces under his command to the area. Conflicts resulted between the incoming Arab army and the residents of the area.
In Seljuki times, the city flourished as well. During the Mongol invasion of Persia the city witnessed widespread destruction, but after the Mongol ruling dynasty, also known as the Ilkhanate, converted to Islam during the reign of Öljeitü (Persian Muhammad Khudabænde), the city received special attention, thus undergoing a revival once more.
In the late 14th century, the city was plundered by Tamerlane and the inhabitants were massacred. But during the periods of rule of the Qara Qoyunlu, Aq Qoyunlu and especially during the reign of the Safavids, Qom gained special attention and gradually developed due to its religious shrine.
Heritage sites
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization lists 195 sites of historical and cultural significance in Qom. But the more visited sites of Qom are:
Higher learning and religious studies
Universities and Institutions
Seminaries
Qom is currently the largest center for Shi'a scholarship in the world. There are an estimated 50,000 seminarians in the city coming from 70 countries including 6000 from Pakistan. Qom has seminaries for women and some non-Shia students. Most of the seminaries teach their students modern social sciences and Western thought as well as traditional religious studies.
Clerical associations
The following is a list of some Grand Ayatollahs and the most senior ranking Ayatollahs in or directly related to Qom.
Current
Deceased
Science and technology
Fordow uranium enrichment facility
Qom space center
Qom space center is, with the Emamshahr space center, one of the two places where the Iranian Space Agency is launching its suborbital Shahab 3 ballistic missiles.
See also
References
- Qom can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3080355" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
- "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)" (Excel). Islamic Republic of Iran. http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/25.xls.
- ^ Christopher de Bellaigue, The Struggle for Iran, New York Review of Books, 2007, p.24
- Momen, Moojan, An Introduction to Shi'i Islam, Yale University Press, 1985, 247
- Nasr, Vali The Shia Revival, Norton, (2006), p.217
- ^ Pro-reform clerical body protests Iran elections. July 5, 2009
- http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Board/2009/gov2009-74.pdf
- Figuring Out Fordow
- "Iran 'concealed nuclear facility'". BBC News. 2009-09-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8274903.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
External links
Religiously affiliated
- Holy City of Qum: Past and Present
- Noor Fiqh Library, Qom
- Imam Ali commemorative website, based in Qom.
- Society of Islamic Teachers of Qom's Hawzah (in Persian)
- Qom Seminary Islamic Propagation Office 1
- Qom Seminary Islamic Propagation Office 2
- Qom Seminary Islamic Propagation Office 3
- Qom Seminary Islamic Propagation Office 4
- Qom Seminary Publishers
- Sharah Hawzah Seminary Information Network
- Islamic International Foundation of Cooperation(IslamIFC) IslamIFC
- Qom Photos
Non-religiously affiliated
- Qom Province Dwelling Foundation of Islamic Revolution
- Qom Management and Planning Organization
- Governor of Qom website
- Qom Province Transportation and Terminals Organization
- Irani, Hamed (2 November 2005). Qom Concerned over New Intelligence Appointments. ROOZ (ROOZ Online). Archived from the original on 25 March 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060325235926/http://roozonline.com/11english/011400.shtml. Retrieved 28 June 2009
Others
- Province of Qom on Iran Chamber Society
- Sādeq Sabā, Visiting Iran's ayatollahs at Qom, Tuesday, 17 June 2008, BBC.
- Supreme Leader's Visit to Qom - PressTV video
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Qom&oldid=464232740
