مسجد امام رضا عليه السلام كانون فرهنكي محبان اهل بيت

Above the irrigated fields of Khondab in Markazi province of central Iran, the mosque of Imam Rida, peace be upon him, housed within the Kanun Farhangi Muhibban Ahl al Bayt, the Cultural Centre of the Lovers of the Family of the Prophet, draws a devoted congregation for prayer and spiritual reflection. The name of the centre expresses the attachment of Iranian Muslims to the noble family of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, whose memory has shaped devotional life on the plateau for more than twelve centuries.

Khondab county lies in the western reaches of Markazi province at an elevation of roughly 1700 metres above sea level, surrounded by wheat fields, orchards of walnut and almond trees, and pastures grazed by sheep and cattle. The town gives its name to a nearby heavy water reactor facility that has drawn international attention, yet for the families of the surrounding villages daily life remains rooted in agriculture, traditional hospitality, and the quiet rhythm of the five daily prayers.

The namesake of the mosque is Imam Ali ibn Musa al Rida, the eighth imam of the family of the Prophet according to the reckoning of the Iranian tradition, who passed away in 203 of the hijra near the Khurasani city that now bears his honorific, Mashhad, meaning the Place of Witness. His tomb in Mashhad is one of the holiest shrines of the Iranian Muslim tradition, visited annually by millions of pilgrims, and his wise counsels on ethics, devotion, and patience have been preserved in numerous works of hadith and biography.

The prayer hall itself is built in the Iranian provincial style, with thick walls of brick and plaster, a central dome finished in calligraphic tile, a minaret topped by a small cupola, and carved wooden doors. Red carpeting bears geometric patterns, a mihrab ornamented with Kufic calligraphy faces the qiblah, and a raised wooden minbar stands beside it. Panels on the walls carry Persian devotional poetry and Arabic prayers honouring the family of the Prophet.

Daily prayers gather villagers, and special gatherings fill the hall on the birthday and passing anniversary of Imam Rida. Sermons are delivered in Persian with Arabic quotations. Travellers through Markazi province will find precise daily prayer times for every salah published on this page, alongside address and directions, together with a warm welcome at every hour of the day.