Astan Quds Razavi (also known as Astan-e-Qods) is a Bonyad

Bonyad

Bonyads are charitable trusts in Iran that play a significant role in Iran's non-petroleum economy, controlling an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. Exempt from taxes, they have been called "bloated", and "a major weakness of Iran’s economy", and criticized for reaping "huge subsidies from government",...

, or autonomous charitable foundation, in Mashhad

Mashhad

Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...

, Iran. It is the administrative organization which manage Imam Reza shrine

Imam Reza shrine

Imām Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran is a complex which contains the mausoleum of Imam Reza, the eighth Imām of Twelver Shi'ites. It is the largest mosque in the world by dimension and the second largest in capacity...

 and institutions belonging to the organization.

The administrative organization of Astan Quds Razavi is considered as the longest-lasting organization which exists since the martyrdom of Imam Reza about 1200 years ago. The main resource of the institution is endowments, estimated to be worth $15 billion. and dominating the economy of the city of Mashhad.

Current situation

Since the revolution the Astan-e-Qods bonyad has grown from a" modest concern" into a conglomerate employing 19,000 people and running "auto plants, agricultural businesses, and many other enterprises, and it is worth an estimated $15 billion."

The land occupied by the shrine has grown fourfold since 1979 according to the head of the foundation's international relations department. The foundation owns most of the real estate in Mashhad and rents out shop space to bazaaris and hoteliers.

According to journalist Christopher de Bellaigue, "when asked to identify the most important man in the city, Mashhadis do not name the mayor but rather" the head of Astan-e-Qods.

Ayatollah Abbas Vaez-Tabasi

Abbas Vaez-Tabasi

Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi is an influential member of the Expediency Discernment Council and the Assembly of Experts of the Islamic Republic of Iran.Furthermore, Vaez-Tabasi is the head of the Astan Quds Razavi Foundation...

, nicknamed the Sultan of Khorasan, has been the head of Astan-e-Qods since the revolution

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...

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Publications

• Quds Daily
• Za'ir Magazine
• Haram Magazine
• Printing and Publication Organization

Cultural and educational institute

• Imam Reza (A.S.) University
• Islamic Research Foundation
• Youth Counseling Services and Social Research Institute
• Razavi Cultural Foundation
• Artistic Creativity and Audio-Visual Media Institution
• Museums of the Astan Quds Razavi
• Malek Library and National Museum
• The Dar-ul-Quran of the Astan Quds Razavi
• The Central Museum of Astan Quds Razavi
• Supreme Cultural Council
• The Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi
• Razavi University of Islamic Sciences
• Islamic Propagation and Relations Directorate
• International Relations Office
• On Duty Education Centre for the Employees of the Astan Quds Razavi

Economic institutes

• Economic Organization of Astan Quds Razavi
• Behnashr Company
• Carpet Company
• Insurance Company
• Canning and Cold-Storage Company
• Kenebist Farm
• Housing and Construction Company
• Flour Company
• Samen Pharmaceutical Company
• Bread Manufacturing Industry
• Wood Industry
• Dairy Products Company
• Behnashr Publishing Company
• Orchards Organization
• The Agricultural Units of the Astan Quds Razavi
• The Industrial and Mines, Development and Services Units of the Astan Quds Razavi
• Razavi Brokerage Company
• Razavi Transport Company

Health care institutes

• Physical Training Organization of the Astan Quds Razavi
• Medical Services
• Pharmacy Institute
• Razavi Super-Specialization Hospital

Social institute

• Social Welfare Affairs related to the pilgrims of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza(A.S.)
• Welfare Institutions and Services of the Astan Quds Razavi
• Astan Quds Razavi Sports Complex, Mashhad, Iran

Other related institutes

• International Congress on Imam Reza(A.S.)
• Ayatullah Abbas Vaez Tabasi, Reverend Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi