TEHRAN - About a quarter of a million passengers have traveled through Mashhad’s international airport during the last ten days of Safar, the lunar month commemorated as the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.

“273,680 passengers were transported through Shahid Hashemi Nejad International Airport during the final days of the month of Safar,” said a local official speaking to reporters on Sunday, adding that the passenger traffic is calculated from August 30 to September 8.

Mahmoud Amani-Bani further explained that this number of passengers was transported through 2,005 incoming and outgoing flights at the airport.

The airport, he continued, handled 793 domestic inbound flights carrying 108,371 passengers and 788 domestic outbound flights with 107,433 passengers during this period.

Additionally, there were 212 international inbound flights with 29,256 passengers and 212 international outbound flights with 28,620 passengers, according to the official.

“On September 4, which coincided with the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza (AS), a record was set for the highest number of flights in a single day, with 241 flights and 32,900 passengers passing through Mashhad International Airport,” Amani-Bani brought to light.

Imam Reza (AS) holds a revered place in Shia Islam, particularly among Iranians, due to his historical and spiritual significance. As a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the eighth Imam in Twelver Shia Islam, Imam Reza is honored with numerous titles, including Reza, Alem Al-Muhammad, Gharib Al-Ghoarba, Shams Al-Shomous, and Moin Al-Zoafa. His martyrdom anniversary, known as the “Day of Mourning,” is a time of deep reflection and commemoration for millions of his followers.

The pilgrimage to Imam Reza’s shrine is not only a significant spiritual event but also a testament to the deep devotion and cultural significance attached to the Imam among Shia Muslims. 

In August 2020, the spiritual tradition of pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) was registered on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
XF/AM