Long before, Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had expressed a desire to be laid to rest next to the shrine of Imam Reza, one of Shia Islam’s most revered figures, in the holy city of Mashhad,
also his hometown.
Now, that wish is being fulfilled.
Ali Khamenei –– who was killed on February 28 in coordinated US-Israeli strikes –– will be buried alongside the shrine of Imam Reza in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9. A six-day funeral procession to bid farewell to the slain leader began in Iran on Friday as mourners assembled at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran to pay their last respects.
Khamenei’s Funeral Live Updates
Khamenei’s Funeral Schedule
The official funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei commenced on Friday, July 3, as his body was placed at the Grand Mosalla prayer complex in Tehran for public viewing.
On July 6, a major procession will be carried throughout the streets of Tehran, as mourners are expected to gather in huge numbers to pay their tribute. Then, the procession will be taken to the holy city of Qom, followed by ceremonies in he historic holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in neighbouring Iraq.
Ali Khamenei –– along with several of his family members –– will be laid to rest next to the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on July 9, marking the conclusion of the ceremony.
Khamenei’s Last Wish
Multiple reports suggest that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wished to be buried near the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad. Iranian state media and several international news outlets have reported that his burial near the Imam Reza Shrine intends to honour his final wish.
Imam Reza was the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. According to Iran’s WANA news agency, Shia Muslims believe that after the Prophet Muhammad –– the founder of Islam –– were passed down to a line of Imams, who were the most intellectually, morally, and spiritually superior leaders of their time.
In Iranian culture, Imam Reza is a symbol of kindness, hope, and compassion. His shrine in the holy city of Mashhad stands as one of the most significant pilgrimage sites, drawing tourists from many countries.
