Amir Soleymani Husayniyya
Amir Soleymani Husayniyya
Sufi Order of the Nematollahi Soltan Ali Shahi Gonabadi Dervishes
The Amir Soleymani Husayniyya was originally built in 1280 AH (circa 1863 AD) through the efforts of the late ‘Azod al-Molk, one of the prominent figures of the Qajar era. It was inaugurated three years later and designated for religious gatherings and mourning ceremonies. Later, his younger son, the late Amir Mostafa Amir Soleymani, took over its management according to his father's will. Having become affiliated with the Nematollahi Gonabadi Sufi Order through the companionship of the late Siraj al-Molk, a well-known mosque builder in Tehran during the time of Hazrat Soltan Ali Shah, Amir Soleymani—himself one of the devoted fuqara—dedicated the previously privately owned Husayniyya as an endowment for religious and Sufi ceremonies, particularly the mourning of Imam Hussain (A). By drafting a deed of endowment (waqfnama), he entrusted the custodianship and oversight of the Husayniyya and its properties first to Hazrat Haj Soltan Hossein Tabandeh and then to the officially appointed Qutb of the Order.
With the Qutb’s confirmation and supervision, the Husayniyya was reconstructed and expanded to three times its original size, fully equipped. However, to great sorrow, this sacred site—which was considered the house of Hussain (A) and cherished by the people of Tehran, who widely benefited from its mourning ceremonies—was set ablaze by adversaries on the night of Ashura in 1400 AH (December 9, 1979), after the conclusion of the mourning ceremony for the Fifth of the People of the Cloak. Like the tents of Hussain on the day of Ashura, the entire structure and its contents were reduced to ashes. At the time, Hazrat Reza Ali Shah was abroad for medical treatment and was deeply affected by the news. Nevertheless, he ordered that the religious ceremonies must not be suspended, even for a single day, and should continue in the courtyard of the Husayniyya. He also announced plans to rebuild the site even better than before and declared, “If necessary, I will sell my own house and belongings to rebuild this Husayniyya better than it was.”
Reconstruction began immediately under his instructions, with most of the expenses personally covered by him, and others contributing according to their means. Throughout the entire reconstruction process, mourning and religious gatherings—including the Ashura ceremonies—continued, initially in the courtyard and later in a rented house adjacent to the Husayniyya. His Holiness insisted that the ceremonies not be interrupted under any circumstances. The architectural design was overseen by engineers Mr. Shokrollah Tabandeh and Mr. Alireza Jazbi. The new building largely followed the original blueprint, with some modifications. One notable change was the adjustment of the qibla direction. As the orientation of homes in Tehran generally had a slight rightward deviation, the qibla of the Husayniyya was also slightly skewed. His Holiness personally spent several days using a compass and books on qibla direction to determine the exact line, which was then corrected in the new structure.
The new and significantly more elegant and fully equipped Husayniyya was completed after two years of persistent work under his direct supervision and with the devoted help of faithful brothers. The entrance bears the inscription: ما نَنْسخْ مِنْ آیَةٍ او نُنْسِها نَأتِ بِخَیرٍ مِنها اَوْ مِثلِها (“Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or similar to it.”). The new Husayniyya was inaugurated on Thursday, July 12, 1982 (21 Shawwal 1402 AH), coinciding with Eid al-Fitr, in a grand religious celebration, including a speech by His Holiness. Since then, regular religious and Sufi gatherings have continued to be held there.