The Blessed Sultani Shrine of Bidokht, Gonabad

History of the Blessed Soltani Shrine in Bidokht, Gonabad

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A Brief Description of the Shrine Structure

At the time of the burial of the sacred body of the late Hazrat Haj Mulla Sultan Muhammad Gonabadi (Sultan Ali Shah), the area of the Soltani Shrine was a high mound adjacent to the cemetery and devoid of any building. His eldest son and spiritual successor, the late Hazrat Haj Mulla Ali Nur Ali Shah Gonabadi, first leveled the mound, which later came to be known as the “Upper Courtyard,” and temporarily constructed a small room over the grave. Around it, based on a complete architectural plan, strong foundations, solid walls, and wide corridors were built. However, since his life after his father’s passing was short and marred by opposition and suffering, he was unable to complete the shrine building.

After Hazrat Nur Ali Shah’s passing, his eldest son and successor, Haj Sheikh Mohammad Hasan Bichareh Bidokhti (Saleh Ali Shah), zealously continued the work. With tireless dedication, he pursued the completion of the shrine and its surrounding structures. Once the walls were completed, a tall dome was constructed on the main pillars. On the 10th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1345 AH, the initial dome covering was completed.

The shrine interior is square, measuring 8×8 meters, with an interior ceiling height of 5/14 meters, beautifully adorned with mirror work. Four finely carved walnut and boxwood doors were made for the four sides of the shrine, each measuring 2/45 meters wide, 2/88 meters high without the arch, and 3/68 meters high with the arch.

The tiled inscription inside the shrine, written in Thuluth script, includes the blessed names of the Imams and great saints, inscribed in gold.

The inner walls of the shrine are clad in beautiful marble up to a height of 1/2 meters, adding both strength and beauty to the structure.

In four southern niches, a brief biography of Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah is inscribed on tiles in Nasta‘liq script by Master Abdolrasouli. The fifth niche contains the biography of Hazrat Nur Ali Shah, and the other three detail the life of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah.

The second dome covering was constructed in 1370 AH using reinforced concrete and iron beams and was completed within a year.

To the north of the Upper Courtyard is another courtyard called the “Lower Courtyard,” accessed via twelve steps. To the south of the Upper Courtyard, separated by an iron fence, lies the spacious “Kowsar Courtyard” with multiple furnished rooms. To the west of the Lower Courtyard, a new courtyard was built by Hazrat Haj Sultan Hossein Tabandeh Gonabadi (Reza Ali Shah), on land that was once a caravanserai built by Hazrat Nur Ali Shah. The remainder of the caravanserai was endowed by the children of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah for the shrine. Hazrat Reza Ali Shah reconstructed the area, naming it the “New Courtyard,” and added rooms connecting the eastern section to the western rooms of the Lower Courtyard. This beautiful new courtyard brought the total number of shrine courtyards to four.

A remarkable aspect of the shrine’s construction is that Hazrat Nur Ali Shah himself not only supervised but also worked alongside the laborers as a symbolic gesture, inspiring the fuqara and family members to join the construction efforts. It is even said that when Mr. Rahmat Ali Shah stayed in Bidokht for a while, he too would work several hours a day with the laborers. This spirit of cooperation and devotion to this sacred site united all involved.
This tradition continued during the time of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah as well.

According to the memoirs of the late Mr. Soltan Ali Soltani, Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah also worked alongside laborers during the construction of his own shrine and would encourage visiting guests to join the efforts. Among those who participated were Mr. Moshir al-Saltaneh and others. It is even recalled that during a visit by Shokat al-Molk, he too, despite his age, contributed to the work. During the dome construction, relatives and locals formed a chain to pass mud and bricks, and Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah personally received the mud and laid the bricks of the dome until it was completed. This heartfelt collaboration led each person involved to feel spiritually connected to the shrine.

The Husayniyya

During the time of Hazrat Nur Ali Shah, a small Husayniyya was constructed in the western section of the Upper Courtyard in a chahartaq (four-arched) style. Later, during the time of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah, a larger Husayniyya with the same architectural design was built to the west of the original one, which was then incorporated into the courtyard. As the population outgrew the space, Hazrat Reza Ali Shah constructed another building in summer 1387 AH (1967 CE), measuring approximately 360 square meters, adjacent to the previous Husayniyya. This structure was completed in Ramadan 1388 AH and inaugurated on the night of the 21st of Ramadan. The main entrance opens to the Upper Courtyard, and it also has a door leading to a newly developed courtyard with beautiful gardens in the south, called the “Tekyeh Courtyard,” which is associated with the Husayniyya and counts as the fifth courtyard of the shrine.

Library

The blessed shrine has an official library. In 1303 SH (1924 CE), a location in the northwest section of the courtyard was designated for constructing a new library by Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah. The building was later pursued and completed by Hazrat Reza Ali Shah and officially inaugurated on the 28th of Jumada al-Awwal 1388 AH (1347 SH), coinciding with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah. Unfortunately, it remained underutilized for years until a new large library was founded outside the complex on the northern side of the shrine by Hazrat Haj Dr. Noor Ali Tabandeh “Majzoob Ali Shah.” This library was inaugurated in 1383 SH (2004 CE). The new facility, built across three floors with an area of 1,500 square meters, includes a lecture hall, a book repository, a museum, and a reading room, and is currently in active use by visitors.

Interred at the Blessed Soltani Shrine (Four future descriptions are based on the inscriptions installed in the tombs.)

Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah

The late Haj Mulla Sultan Muhammad Gonabadi, known as Sultan Ali Shah, was the son of Mulla Heydar Muhammad, son of Dost Muhammad, son of Haj Muhammad, son of Haj Qasem Ali, from the Khaza‘ah tribe of the Banu Asad, who were predominantly followers of Mawla Ali (peace be upon him). Due to their devotion and effort in burying the martyrs of Karbala, they were favored by Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him), who bestowed upon them a certificate of satisfaction. Amir Ahmad and Amir Muhammad later presented this certificate to Imam Reza (peace be upon him), who called them "Bichareh" (the destitute), associated them with himself, and granted them exemption from certain governmental taxes and duties. Since then, they have been known by the title "Bichareh," and even during the Safavid era, this decree was presented and reconfirmed.

Haj Qasem Ali was a devout ascetic, worshipper, and scholar. His descendants were mostly scholars, public guides, or dervishes of the Nematollahi order, all known for their piety.

Haj Mulla Sultan Muhammad was born on the night of Tuesday, the 28th of Jumada al-Awwal 1251 AH. At the age of three, his father left for India and never returned, becoming missing. From then on, he was raised under the care of his elder brother and the guardianship of his mother, who was renowned for her piety and devotion among women.

From childhood, he was recognized for his intelligence, wisdom, and insight. He started school at the age of five and quickly became proficient in reciting the Quran and reading Persian. Due to financial hardship, he left his studies and took up work. At the age of seventeen, his passion for learning was reignited, and he diligently pursued education in the village of Biland, completing Arabic and preliminary studies in a short time. He then traveled to Mashhad and later to the holy cities in Iraq to further his education in jurisprudence and theology. He studied for a time under the prominent jurist and scholar Haj Sheikh Morteza Ansari, mastering the prevalent sciences of the time and attaining the rank of ijtihad. Returning to Iran, he spent some time in Tehran, gaining admiration from fellow students. However, due to envy from some, he was forced to leave and moved to Sabzevar to continue his education in rational sciences under Haj Mulla Hadi. There, he quickly outshone his peers and earned the favor of his teacher. Still, he continued to seek the truth, feeling an inner longing that remained unfulfilled.

Eventually, divine providence and the suggestion of Haj Mulla Hadi led him to meet Haj Muhammad Kazem Sa‘adat Ali Shah Esfahani, who was on a pilgrimage to Mashhad and had arrived in Sabzevar. Mulla Sultan Muhammad was deeply moved by this encounter and followed him to Mashhad. At the insistence of Sa‘adat Ali Shah, he then traveled to Gonabad, where he married. Soon after, driven by fervent longing, he traveled to Esfahan and formally became a disciple under Sa‘adat Ali Shah. It is said that Sa‘adat Ali Shah had foretold the arrival of a burning soul from Khorasan and recognized him immediately, declaring, “This is the fire I spoke of.” He also stated that the purpose of his travels was to meet this very person. Three days after Mulla Sultan Muhammad's initiation, Sa‘adat Ali Shah said, “The path that a serious seeker takes sixty years to traverse, this Khorasani scholar has crossed in three days.”

In 1284 AH, he received permission to guide others and was given the title “Sultan Ali Shah.” He was appointed as Sa‘adat Ali Shah’s successor and, after the latter’s passing in 1293 AH, took his place, and all the fuqara turned to him. In 1305 AH, he set out on pilgrimage to the House of God and returned eleven months later.

In Gonabad, due to the affection and admiration he received from both the elite and the general public, he became the target of envy and hostility. Eventually, a plot was made to kill him. On the night of Saturday, the 26th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1327 AH, several men, according to a prior plan, climbed over the wall of his home and descended from a tree branch near the house where a stream flowed. As he stepped out at dawn to renew his ablution, they strangled him and threw his body into the water. When he didn’t return, the household went to search and discovered his lifeless body in the stream. They attempted to revive him, but it was too late. His pure soul had already departed for the realm of divine sanctity. May God have mercy on him.

Cries of mourning soon filled the house, and his son and successor, Haj Mulla Ali Nur Ali Shah, was informed. In a short time, the entire town of Bidokht was engulfed in grief. His body was carried in an unprecedented funeral procession and buried on an elevated ground overlooking the cemetery, which now serves as a place of pilgrimage for the spiritually aware and a focal point for seekers of the path.

Many writings and works remain from him, the most important of which include: Bayan al-Sa‘adah Tafsir (a mystical commentary on the entire Quran in Arabic in four volumes), Velayatnameh, Besharat al-Mo’minin, Majma‘ al-Sa‘adat, Tanbih al-Na‘imin, and Tawzih—all in Persian—as well as Eydaah, his last work in Arabic.

Hazrat Nur Ali Shah II

Haj Mulla Ali Gonabadi, the son of Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah, was his father’s successor and spiritual heir, bearing the title Nur Ali Shah II. He was born in the blessed town of Bidokht on the 17th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1284 AH. His noble mother passed away when he was just two years old, and he was raised both physically and spiritually under the care of his esteemed father. After completing his preliminary education, he received instruction in remembrance (dhikr) and contemplation (fikr) from his father upon reaching the age of maturity. Seeking further knowledge, he traveled to the sacred city of Mashhad. Driven by a great passion for theological research, he embarked on a journey in 1300 AH, spending seven years traveling through Afghanistan, India, Kashmir, the Hijaz, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, the Levant, and other Ottoman territories. Upon confirming the truth of his father’s path, he returned to the khanqah and immersed himself in ascetic discipline and worship. In Ramadan 1315 AH, he was officially commissioned by his father to guide and instruct seekers and was granted the title Nur Ali Shah.

After the martyrdom of his noble father, he assumed the mantle of guidance and became the spiritual leader for seekers of the path to God, as explicitly designated by his father. During a journey to Kashan on the 15th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1337 AH, he was poisoned and attained martyrdom. He was buried at the shrine of the late Sa‘adat Ali Shah located in the sanctuary of Hazrat Abdul Azim in Rey. Ṭāb Tharāh (May his resting place be sanctified).

Hazrat Nur Ali Shah authored many books, some of which are now lost, while others remain. Among his most notable works are: Risālah-ye Ṣāliḥiyyah, Najd al-Hidāyah, Dhū al-Fiqār (a treatise prohibiting opium use), Sulṭān-i Falak-i Sa‘ādat, Sulṭanat al-Ḥusayn, and Rujūm al-Shayāṭīn.

Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah

Hazrat Haj Sheikh Mohammad Hasan Bichareh Bidokhti, known as Saleh Ali Shah, was the son and spiritual heir of Hazrat Nur Ali Shah II. He was born on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1308 AH, corresponding to the 24th of Tir 1270 SH.

At the beginning of adolescence, he began reading and writing, learning the Holy Quran and Persian texts. He then studied Arabic and traditional sciences under his venerable grandfather and noble father in Bidokht. After the martyrdom of his grandfather in 1327 AH, he moved to Tehran. At his father's command, he continued his education in Esfahan. On the 20th of Sha‘ban 1328 AH, he was granted permission to lead congregational prayers, and on the 11th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1329 AH, he was honored with the title Saleh Ali Shah and commissioned to guide seekers. In 1330 AH, he performed pilgrimage to Mecca, and during that same Ramadan, he was appointed as his father's successor.

Like his father and grandfather, he endured continuous harassment from opponents but bore it with patience. After the passing of his revered father, he formally assumed the position of spiritual leadership, dedicating himself to guiding seekers, assisting the needy, and engaging in charitable work. He made numerous journeys within and outside Iran, including several pilgrimages to the sacred sites in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. In Rajab 1373 AH, due to illness, he traveled to Tehran. Following medical advice and prayerful consultation, he went to Switzerland for surgery. After two and a half months of treatment there, he returned directly to Tehran and stayed for a time to fully recover. In the winter of the same year, he returned to Gonabad and later made three more pilgrimages—at the beginning of 1375 AH, again in 1380 AH, and in Muharram 1385 AH—to the holy sites in Iraq and the two sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina.

While residing in Gonabad, he focused on guiding spiritual seekers, aiding the poor, and overseeing public benefit projects such as the construction and restoration of buildings for public use, including the renovation of his grandfather’s sacred shrine. He also supported himself through agriculture. His charitable works can be found throughout the villages of Gonabad—few are untouched by his benevolence. In the afternoons, he taught Qur’anic commentary and expounded upon the truths of religion.

During the summer of 1345 SH, he suffered recurrent illness and spent several days bedridden. Yet as soon as he experienced slight recovery, he would leave his bed to reassure the fuqara. Eventually, on Wednesday, the 8th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1386 AH, he experienced a sudden decline. Around midnight, he dismissed his physicians. At dawn on Thursday, the 9th of Rabi‘ al-Thani (6 Mordad 1345 SH), his condition worsened, and his blessed soul ascended to the realm of sanctity. His pure body was honored with an unprecedented funeral in Gonabad and was buried beside his illustrious grandfather. With his passing, a vast world of knowledge and spiritual wisdom was laid to rest.

In 1329 AH, he married the daughter of his maternal uncle, Mr. Mulla Muhammad Ṣadr al-‘Ulama. He had seven sons and one daughter. The eldest of his children is Hazrat Haj Sultan Hossein Tabandeh Reza Ali Shah, his designated successor.

Among his surviving works is the noble treatise Pand-e Saleh (“The Advice of Saleh”) in Persian, which, despite its brevity, comprehensively encompasses both Shari‘a and Sufi teachings. He also left behind many mystical letters, some of which have been collected in the volume Nameha-ye Saleh (“The Letters of Saleh”).

Hazrat Reza Ali Shah

Hazrat Haj Sultan Hossein Tabandeh Gonabadi, known as Reza Ali Shah, was the son and successor of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah. He was born in Bidokht on the 28th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1332 AH (November 25, 1914 CE). After his infancy and early childhood, he studied Persian and Arabic literature, followed by advanced studies in jurisprudence, principles of Islamic law, philosophy, and logic under his esteemed father and local scholars. He progressed quickly in his education, but the acquisition of outward knowledge did not satisfy his thirst for spiritual truth. With a heart longing for divine knowledge, he formally entered the path of spiritual wayfaring (suluk ila Allah) on the 10th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1349 AH under the guidance of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah.

Since local teachers could not fulfill his intellectual aspirations, he went to the renowned religious center of Esfahan in 1351 AH to complete his studies. There, he studied under prominent scholars of the time and mastered both rational and traditional sciences, as well as theoretical gnosis (‘irfan-e nazari). Additionally, he studied astronomy, mathematics, traditional medicine, and esoteric sciences with experts in those fields. He also received several ijazat (certificates) for narrating hadith in Esfahan.

To acquaint himself with modern sciences, he moved to Tehran and enrolled in the Faculty of Theology (Ma‘qul and Manqul) and the Higher Teachers College, graduating from both with high honors in 1318 SH (1939 CE). After completing his academic studies, he returned to Bidokht to accompany his noble father and spiritual mentor. To earn a living through his own efforts—like his honorable ancestors—he engaged in the dignified profession of farming, while also teaching one of the Islamic sciences.

After spiritual struggles and self-discipline, on the 15th of Sha‘ban 1369 AH, he received permission from his father to lead congregational prayers and to transmit oral invocations (awrad and adhkar). On the 11th of Dhu al-Qa‘dah that same year (September 3, 1950), he was granted the honor of guiding seekers with the title “Reza Ali.” In Dhu al-Qa‘dah 1379 AH, he was officially appointed his father’s successor with the blessed title “Reza Ali Shah.” Upon the passing of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah, and in accordance with his directive, he became the spiritual leader of the Nematollahi Gonabadi Order.

Hazrat Reza Ali Shah made numerous pilgrimages to Mecca, Medina, and the sacred shrines in Iraq. On these journeys, he also had the opportunity to meet leading Islamic scholars and marājiʿ. In one of these visits to Najaf, he received authorization for ijtihad from Ayatollah Kashif al-Ghita’. He also traveled to spread spiritual and religious teachings across the Arab world, as well as to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and some European countries.

In the final years of his life, he resided in Tehran and continued attending to the needs of the fuqara. He was deeply committed to public welfare and charity projects, such as building and restoring mosques, Husayniyyas, and the graves of the Imams (peace be upon them) and other great religious figures. Among his notable charitable works are those in Gonabad, the reconstruction of the Husayniyya of ‘Azud al-Mulk (Amir Soleymani) in Tehran, and the establishment of the Saleh Clinic adjacent to it.

He worked diligently to uphold and strengthen Islam and actively promoted the religion, engaging with esteemed scholars and earning their respect. Despite his numerous religious responsibilities, he never neglected academic research and authored many articles and over twenty books in the fields of mysticism, philosophy, theology, and history.

In the final years of his life, he suffered from illness and spent the last two weeks of his physical existence in the hospital. Sadly, at dawn on the 11th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1413 AH (September 18, 1992 CE), his pure soul departed from the physical realm and joined the Beloved. He was buried beside his father and grandfather in Bidokht in a grand funeral ceremony.

He married in 1316 SH (1937 CE), and from this union he had two sons and three daughters. The eldest of his sons is Haj Ali Tabandeh, known as Mahbub Ali Shah, his designated successor.

His most important mystical and scholarly works include: “The Manifestation of Truth in the Secrets of the Karbala Tragedy”, “History and Geography of Gonabad”, “The Genius of Knowledge and Mysticism” (a biography of Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah), “Guide to Salvation”, “A Religious Perspective on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Holy Quran, and Three Mystical Tales”, the book “Refutation of Doubts”, and his final work, “Three Radiant Gems from the Ocean of Divine Speech”.

Hazrat Mahbub Ali Shah

Haj Ali Tabandeh, known as Mahbub Ali Shah, the eldest son of Hazrat Sultan Hossein Tabandeh Reza Ali Shah, was born in Tehran on Tuesday, the 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1364 AH (November 22, 1945 CE). He spent his childhood in both Tehran and Gonabad, the spiritual center of the recent Qutbs of the Nematollahi Order, nurtured under the care and spiritual attention of his noble father and his esteemed grandfather, Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah. He studied the fundamentals of religious and literary sciences as well as the early years of school under local teachers and his father’s supervision. Later, at his father’s guidance, he returned to Tehran to pursue further studies. He completed high school in the humanities stream at Dar ul-Funun and graduated in Khordad 1342 SH (June 1963). Throughout his education, he remained under the direct and indirect supervision of his father, who closely oversaw his upbringing.

He frequently traveled to his beloved hometown of Bidokht, where his yearning for divine truth and spiritual guidance steadily deepened. On Sunday, the 15th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1384 AH (September 1, 1964 CE), coinciding with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Mulla Ali Nur Ali Shah II, he was formally initiated into the path of faqr and faith at the blessed hand of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah, by the recommendation of his father and in the presence of the noble Shaykh, the late Haj Sayyid Hebatollah Jazbi (Thabit Ali).

He pursued higher education at Mashhad University and the Faculty of Literature at the University of Tehran, earning his bachelor's degree in Persian Language and Literature in Tir 1348 SH (July 1969). During his university years, he supported himself by teaching in high schools in Tehran. After graduation, and in accordance with his father’s wishes, he joined the National Iranian Oil Company in 1351 SH (1972) to earn a living through his own efforts. He remained employed there until 1368 SH (1989), when he voluntarily retired to focus on his spiritual duties.

After the passing of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah on Mordad 6, 1345 SH (July 28, 1966), and the succession of Hazrat Reza Ali Shah, he came under the special attention and care of the latter. Following his father's command, he began formal training in religious sciences, spiritual discipline (suluk), and ascetic practices under the guidance of the late Haj Sayyid Hebatollah Jazbi. Initially irregular, this training became structured from 1358 SH (1979) until the passing of Shaykh Jazbi in 1364 SH (1985), culminating in success. On the 15th of Sha‘ban 1401 AH (June 28, 1981), he received formal permission from Hazrat Reza Ali Shah to lead congregational prayers for the fuqara. This written permission was publicly announced on Mehr 8, 1365 SH (September 30, 1986).

After advancing through the spiritual stages of self-discipline, four years later on the Night of Qadr (21st of Ramadan 1405 AH / June 20, 1985), he received the decree to guide seekers under the honored title “Mahbub Ali” from his father.

From 1358 SH onward, as Hazrat Reza Ali Shah resided in Tehran, he was often in his presence, accompanying him during both travel and residence, like Moses learning love from Khidr. He performed Hajj in early 1345 SH, accompanied his father in 1351, and traveled with his mother in 1353 to perform the Umrah. During this same trip, they visited Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. In 1355, he accompanied his father and spiritual master on a pilgrimage to the sacred sites in Iraq, meeting prominent Shi’a scholars.

He married in 1355 SH (1976) to the daughter of the late Abdul Ali Sheidani. The couple had two sons: Reza and Rahmatollah.

For some time, Hazrat Reza Ali Shah had received divine inspiration indicating he should appoint his noble son as his spiritual successor. He even mentioned this in a letter to Mr. Jazbi. However, for various reasons, he delayed the appointment until, after several dreams in which Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah instructed him to proceed, he finally issued the succession decree on Eid al-Ghadir in 1406 AH (September 2, 1985). This decision was reaffirmed in writing on multiple later occasions.

When Hazrat Reza Ali Shah passed away on Wednesday, the 11th of Rabi‘ al-Awwal 1413 AH (September 18, 1992), Mahbub Ali Shah, based on the explicit decree, assumed the spiritual leadership of the Nematollahi Gonabadi Order with a grieving heart and tearful eyes, fulfilling his spiritual responsibility.

He was a gentle and kind-hearted person—gracious with the fuqara, respectful to relatives, patient with adversaries, and benevolent toward all. Although his tenure as Qutb lasted slightly more than four years, during that short time he became, as the saying goes, “a name descending from the heavens”—beloved by all, both friend and stranger. His soul so yearned for union with the Divine that his earthly body could scarcely contain it, and he awaited his reunion with the Beloved. He repeatedly told close companions that his days were short and likened himself to his great-grandfather Nur Ali Shah II, often quoting, “Suddenly a cry was heard—the master was gone.” The passing of his noble father had deeply wounded his tender heart—one no remedy could heal.

Despite the intensity of his love for the Divine and the overpowering pull of spiritual ecstasy, he remained attentive to the obligations of Shari‘a and the welfare of the fuqara. Following his father’s will, he sought both inwardly and outwardly to exalt the banner of faqr. In Sufi gatherings, he consistently emphasized the teachings of both Shari‘a and Tariqa, urging everyone to harmonize religious law with the disciplines of the spiritual path. He published several guidance notes (tazkariyyah) on these themes. Though his time was short, he was devoted to study and research and authored several works, including: “The Radiant Sun” (on the life and works of Hazrat Reza Ali Shah), “Treatise on Presence of Heart”, “The Manifestation of Supreme Love”, “The Divine Covenant”, and a treatise on Predestination and Free Will. He also left behind a number of writings that reflect his profound scholarly insight.

Knowing that his physical life would be brief and recognizing the outward and inward spiritual greatness of his respected uncle, Hazrat Haj Dr. Noor Ali Tabandeh—who had served as advisor to both his father and himself—he, on the same day Hazrat Reza Ali Shah passed away (September 18, 1992), issued permission for him to lead prayers in Sufi gatherings. On the 9th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1413 AH (October 15, 1992), coinciding with the anniversary of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah’s passing, he granted him the authority to guide seekers and teach invocations with the blessed title “Majzoob Ali.” Then, through divine inspiration, on Tuesday, the 22nd of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1413 AH (October 22, 1992), the fortieth day after Hazrat Reza Ali Shah’s death, he formally appointed him as his spiritual successor, noting in the decree that he had completed the stages of faqr and fanā and possessed a purified heart and sound inner being.

Four years passed, and his longing for union only grew. In early winter of 1375 SH (1996 CE), due to illness and repeated requests from fuqara abroad, he traveled to Germany, where he was hospitalized and underwent surgery. His stay lasted three weeks. During his final Sufi gathering there, he offered a striking farewell to the fuqara abroad—a goodbye not just for his return to Iran, but for his journey to the eternal kingdom. In Tehran, too, on the Friday morning before Ramadan began, he told the congregation: “This is the last Friday I will attend the Husayniyya.” While many thought he meant the start of Ramadan and temporary suspension of gatherings, he was actually alluding to his imminent departure.

A few weeks before his passing, he wrote six telegrams to the senior sheikhs of the order, sealed them in two envelopes, and entrusted them to one of the fuqara to be sent after his death. These telegrams announced his departure from this world and confirmed Hazrat Majzoob Ali Shah as his successor, instructing followers to obey him.

From the beginning of Ramadan, his physical strength waned. The day before his passing, he said, “I haven’t slept in days.” Yet despite his condition, he did not forgo fasting. At dawn on Thursday, the 6th of Ramadan 1417 AH (January 16, 1997 CE), he phoned his aunt in Bidokht, alluding to his imminent arrival. In his final days, he behaved like a guest summoned to a divine banquet, awaiting his departure. On the morning of Thursday, the 6th of Ramadan (Dey 27, 1375 SH), he passed away due to cardiac arrest, his sacred soul released from the burden of the physical body to unite with the Beloved.

The following day, his blessed body was brought from Tehran and buried in a grand funeral at the Soltani Shrine in Bidokht beside his father and esteemed ancestors. May God’s mercy be upon him.

Hazrat Majzoob Ali Shah

The luminous resting place and sacred tomb of the Qutb of the gnostics (Qutb al-‘Arifin) and refuge of the seekers (Malja' al-Salikin), the one beloved of God’s friends (Mardhi Awliya’ Allah), Hazrat Haj Dr. Noor Ali Tabandeh, known as Majzoob Ali Shah—noble descendant of Hazrat Saleh Ali Shah (may their secrets be sanctified), and the designated successor of the esteemed Mawlana Haj Ali Tabandeh, Mahboob Ali Shah (may his soul be blessed)—was born on the 17th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1346 AH, coinciding with the birth of Hazrat Noor Ali Shah (may his resting place be filled with light). He departed from his physical body on the 27th of Rabi‘ al-Thani 1441 AH (December 18, 2019 CE), and his pure soul ascended to the Garden of Divine Contentment (Rawdat al-Ridwan).