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Mashhad (history, Pictures)
Geographical Condition
The holy city of Mashhad is the administrative capital of the Khorasan province. It occupies an area of more than 200 square kilometers and is situated in the north east of Iran between Binalood and Hazar Masjid mountain ranges. Its altitude is 980 meters above the sea level and is 745 kilometers away from Tehran.
Mashhad in the Pre-Islamic Era
The history of the foundation of Mashhad commence in the third century Hijrah after the martyrdom and burial of Imam Reza(A.S) in this city.But the Toos region near Mashhad enjoys an ancient history.
Toos has been named after its first founder and ruler named Toos bin Nowzar, the famous army commander of Emperor Key Khusrow of the Keyan dynasty.
The history of Toos before the advent of Islam is recorded only in the legends. But according to the chronicles available it can said that Toos city during the twilight of the Sasanid dynasty was a broder city on Gorgan-Nishabour highway to Marw and Balkh and was one of the famous cities in Khorasan.
Mashhad in the Islamic Era
According to the historians Yazdjerd III, the last Sasanid ruler while fleeing from the advancing Muslim army led by Ahnaf bin Qais wanted to take refuge in Toos. But Kanazang, the military commander of Toos region advised him to go to Marw bringing forth the reason that Toos was incapable of keeping the large royal retinue, thus staving away the attack of Muslim forces on his domain. The governor of Marw first received the fleeing monarch warmly but deceived him later on and the last Sasanid monarch was assassinated in the year 31 A.H in Marw by a miller.
Kanazang who was an oppurtunist statesman fearing the danger from the Muslim army pleaded for refuge in a letter addressed to Abdullah bin Aamer, the field commander. In this letter he promised to help the Muslim army in conquering Nishabour. After the conquest of Nishabour with his help Muslims gave the command of this area to him.
Inspite of the conquest of Khorasan by the Muslim army the successors of Kanazang were able to keep their hold over Toos with their sheer craftiness. But they were dislodged from toos by the forces of Abu Muslim Khorasani during the last stages of Umayyad rule.
Mashhad During During the Umayyad Period
There is little historical information regarding Toos during the Umayyad period. The major event of this period is that Khwajah Rabie bin Haitham one of the companions of Imam Ali(A.S.) and close friend of Abdullah ibn Masood migrated to Khorasan in 35 A.H and settled in Nowgan. He passed away in 61 A.H. and was buried here.
Mashhad during the Abbasid Period
During the Abbasid period the governors of Khorasan were directly nominated by the Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad. But occasional insurrections used to take place due to the inefficiency of these governors.Sometimes the unruly public used to demand the deposition of these inept governors.
At the end of the second century Hijrah when Abi bin Isa was the governor of Khorasan disorder and strife reached is height to an extent that the ruling Abbasid caliph in the year 189 A.H was foced to leave the capital Baghdad towards eastern provinces to subdue the insurrection in Khorasan. But Ali bin Isa met him at Rayy and presented the caliph with rich gifts which won him the support to continue as the ruler of Khorasan After a year the insurrection broke out once again and Harun dismissed him from the governorship of Khorasan. In 192 A.H, Harun left for Khorasan to enforce the law and order in the region and camped at the garden of Humaid bin Qahtabah situated at Sanabad. After a lapse of a year he became severely ill and died. He was buried under the dome of the palace situated in the middle of this garden.
From Toos to Mashhad
The Toos region was inhabited by many towns and cities of which the Nowgan and Taberan were the prosperous and populated cities which consisted of more than one thousand villages in its vicinity. Sometimes Nowgan attained prominence and sometimes Taberan become more important.
The other important city of the historical Toos region called as Nowgan is at present situated in the heart of the Mashhad city. The Sanabad village which enjoyed pleasant climate and comprised of variegated orchards and subterranean canals was situated in the vicinity of the Nowgan city.
The other important city of the historical Toos region called as Nowgan is at present situated in the heart of the Mashhad city. The Sanabad village which enjoyed pleasant climate and comprised of variegated orchards and subterranean canals was situated in the vicinity of the Nowgan city.
hesabi hesabi eltemase doa daram
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