Tomb of Sheikh Ala al-Dawla Semnani

The Tomb of Sheikh Ala al-Dawla Semnani is located in the village of Sufiabad, in Sorkheh County, Semnan Province. It is one of the historical and spiritual monuments surviving from the Ilkhanid period. Sufiabad lies along the Tehran–Mashhad route, about 11 kilometres from the town of Sorkheh, and is home to the tomb of Sheikh Ala al-Dawla Semnani, a renowned mystic of the 7th and 8th centuries AH (lunar Hijri). The monument was inscribed on the Iran National Heritage list on 21 Aban 1317 under registration number 320. Sheikh Ala al-Dawla Semnani, whose full name was Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad Biyabanaki Semnani, was one of the great masters of Sufism and a well-known figure of Iranian mysticism. After years of service in the royal administration, he turned to the mystical path. He spent the last years of his life in Sufiabad, in the khanqah (Sufi lodge) he kept there, guiding his disciples, writing books and composing poetry. He died in 736 AH (lunar Hijri) and was buried in this same complex.

The tomb and khanqah were originally a tall, magnificent structure built of mud brick on the orders of Emad al-Din Jamal al-Din Abd al-Wahhab, vizier to Sultan Muhammad Khodabandeh, and Sheikh Ala al-Dawla later added a khanqah to it. The complex, a surviving example of architecture from the late 7th and early 8th centuries AH, fell into ruin over time because of weak construction and neglect, and much of it was lost. The building originally had a square courtyard surrounded by numerous rooms and corridors, with a large mud-brick dome rising over the main part of the structure. A tall, east-facing iwan was also a distinctive element of the complex. It was built of brick and had two tall piers and two undecorated pointed blind arches. The Sheikh's grave lies outside the iwan, and his biography and verses are carved on its gravestones. Architecturally, a notable feature of the building was the gradual transition from a square plan to a polygon and then to the cylindrical section beneath the dome. During the Sheikh's lifetime, the khanqah was a gathering place for mystics and thinkers, and the name of Khwaju Kermani is also linked with the complex.

To reach the Tomb of Sheikh Ala al-Dawla Semnani, take the Tehran–Mashhad road and turn onto the side road leading to Sufiabad. This side road is paved and reaches the village after about 6 kilometres. Sufiabad is about 11 kilometres from the town of Sorkheh, and once you enter the village, the tomb stands in its historic quarter. A visit to this monument is especially appealing to those interested in historical architecture, mysticism, literature and Iranian culture, and the cooler seasons of the year are better for visiting this area. When visiting the tomb grounds and the village, remember the principles of responsible tourism: keep quiet and show respect for the atmosphere of the tomb, avoid damaging the mud-brick and historic parts of the building, and keep the site clean.