Geography
The province has an area of 10,743 sq kms. It is bounded by Tehran and Saveh to the north, Delijan, Kashan and Mahallat to the south and
the Salt Lake, Ashtian and Tafresh to the east.
Handicrafts and Souvenirs
Pottery dishes and china utensils, silken carpets, lithic objects engraved furniture and steel are among the handicrafts of Qum.
Pomegranate, figs, 'Suhan' (special sweet and delicious candy) and ceramic dishes are the souvenirs travelers take on their return from Qum.
Baluchi needle works, pottery making, mat weaving, basket weaving, carpet weaving, 'Gelim' weaving and 'Sekeh-Doozi' (coin works) are handicrafts and travel gifts of the province.
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Cultural Characteristics
The city of Qum has for years been the host to people interested in Holy Prophet of Islam Hazrat Mohammad's (Peace be Upon Him and His Progeny) infallible household, coming to the area to visit the holy shrine of Hazrat
Masoomeh (A.S.), the noble sister of Hazrat Ali Ibn Mousa Al-Reza (A.S.), the sixth Imam of the infallible household of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and the holy Mosque of
Jamkaran.
The seminary or the Islamic University, which serves as one of the major centers for the propagation of religious sciences, has had an extraordinary influence on the cultural development of the city of Qum.
Historical Background
According to historians, Qum dates back to centuries before the advent of Islam.
Its foundation is attributed to Pishdadi King Tahmures and the book 'Khosrow Kavazan Varizaki', in Pahlavi script, from the Sassanid era, speaks of the city's saffron and recreational center.
Reference to Qum has been made three times in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, indicating that the city was famous during Sassanid era. |
