Imamzadeh Ismail and Shayah Mosque

Imamzadeh Ismail and Shayah Mosque (Persian: امامزاده اسماعیل و مسجد شیعه) is a historical funerary religious complex in Isfahan, Iran, which dates back to both the Seljuk and Safavid periods.^[1][2] This complex is number 112 on the list of Iran's national monuments, and it comprises the Imamzadeh Ismail and the Shayah Mosque.^[3]

The original structure was a pre-Islamic building that was converted into a mosque during the Rashidun conquest of Persia.^[4] During the Seljuk period, the mosque became known as Shayah Mosque.^[4][2] After the Safavids had taken over Persia, they added a courtyard to the structure, as well as the building of Imamzadeh Ismail.^[1][4]

Imamzadeh Ismail
The dome of the Imamzadeh
Architecture
Type	Imamzadeh
Completed	17th century

The Imamzadeh Ismail (Persian: امامزاده اسماعيل) is built around the tomb of Ismail, a grandson of the third Ahlulbayt Imam, Hasan ibn Ali.^[1] Construction started in the Safavid era during the rule of Shah Abbas I, but it was completed in the 17th century, during the rule of Safi of Persia.^[4][1] The dome of the Imamzadeh is decorated with tiles, and underneath the dome is Ismail's grave.^[4][1]

The entrance of the Imamzadeh has two gilded wooden doors with very thin lines of gold on a steel background.^[4][1] A hallway within the Imamzadeh holds many paintings, painted by Mohammad Saleh Esfahani.^[4][5]

Shayah Mosque/Shayah-Nabi Tomb
The purported tomb of Isaiah
Architecture
Type	mausoleum
Specifications
Minaret(s)	1 (ruined)
Minaret height	12 metres
Materials	brick

The Shayah Mosque (Persian: مسجد شیعه) or Shayah-Nabi Tomb (مقبره شیاح نبی)^[4] is the older part of the religious complex. It dates back to Seljuk period^[1][4][5] in the 11th century, and was originally built over a smaller mosque that dated to the Rashidun period.^[4][1] The mosque is believed to contain the tomb of Isaiah, who is revered in Islamic tradition as a Prophet and the advisor of Hezekiah.^[4][3][1] The mosque's brick minaret dates back to the Seljuk era as well, and it is 12 metres tall, but it is ruined.^[4]

• 
  A painting in the Imamzadeh Ismail
• 
  The muqarnas underneath the dome of the Imamzadeh
• 
  A sign board at the Shayah Mosque, displaying the Islamic story of Isaiah and a mention of many other tombs dedicated to him throughout Iran
• 
  One of the doors in the religious complex, with muqarnas style above the doorway

• List of historical structures in Isfahan for a more comprehensive list on the historical sites in Isfahan, Iran
• List of mausoleums in Iran for a complete list of mausoleums in Iran

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Imamzadeh Ismail (Isfahan).

References