Mohammed ibn-Zeid Mausoleum

This modest mausoleum, crowned by a harmonious dome, evokes a sense of peace and tranquility. Its shaded surroundings and the trees create a cool, serene atmosphere. A tamarisk bush, considered sacred, is adorned like a Christmas tree with colorful fabric strips. Nearby, in front of the mausoleum, there was once a large sardoba (water reservoir), now reduced to a deep brick-lined pit without water. The above-ground structure of the sardoba has completely disappeared.

Muhammad ibn Zayd, who lived in the 8th century, was a direct descendant of Hazrat Ali in the fifth generation. The mausoleum over his grave was built much later, in 1112 AD, from clay bricks and faced with burnt brick. It represents the typical Khorasan architectural style, with a central dome and no portal. The main facade, featuring a central entrance arch, is decorated with stone carvings.

The mausoleum has three large arches combined with narrow arched niches, and its decorative panels showcase an intricate arrangement of beautiful brick patterns. The interior plastered walls feature ornate paintings, while a band of relief brickwork, extending up to the dome, bears patterns and inscriptions. The mausoleum’s architectural language is characterized by its simplicity and harmony, reminiscent of the grandeur of the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum. The structure was recently restored, removing layers of amateurish renovations.

Inside the mausoleum, there is a rare multi-lobed mihrab. The foliage in the mihrab’s design is painted in vivid colors, with each of the 12 leaves depicted in bright hues. The colored background is adorned with white five-petaled flowers with yellow centers. The mihrab is set within a rectangular niche that was once entirely covered in polychromatic painting, with a red frieze at the top containing an Arabic inscription highlighted by a wide blue stripe.

Although the remnants of the frescoes are faint, they are still discernible. The walls of the simple prismatic space beneath the dome are finished with a brick frieze featuring a relief inscription set against a finely carved vegetal pattern in alabaster. The sails of the dome are also beautifully adorned with unique decorative brickwork.

The Muhammad ibn Zayd Mausoleum, with its tranquil presence and refined architectural features, stands as a serene monument to the region’s rich history, echoing the grandeur of the Seljuk era.