The burial place and shrine of the early 9th-century religious leader Imam Reza, Mashhad is regarded by Shiite Muslims as one of Iran's holiest places. One of the largest cities in Iran, it draws many tourists and pilgrims every year. The grave of the caliph Harun al-Rashid is also in the shrine.
Mashhad gained prominence as a religious center in the 9th century. Shah Abbas I (reigned 1588-1629) beautified the city, and it prospered under Nadir Shah as the capital of a great Iranian empire.
