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"Qum" redirects here. For other uses, see Qum (disambiguation).

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Qom

قم

City

کلانشهر قم · Qom Metropolis

Top: Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Second Row: Left: Bagh-e Gonbad-e Sabz Right: Grand Timcheh of Qom, Third Row: Left: Feyziyeh Madrasas Right: Qom Jamkaran Mosque, Bottom: Panoramic view of downtown Qom

Flag

Qom

Location in Iran

Country

Qom

District

Central

Elevation

936 m (3,071 ft)

Population

(2016)

• City

1,201,158

• Metro

1,260,000

• Population Rank in Iran

7th

Time zone

UTC+3:30 (IRST)

Postal code

37100

Area code(s)

(+98) 025

Climate

BWh

Qom (Persian: قم) is a big city in Iran. It is the capital of Qom Province. Qom is about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Tehran, Iran's capital. It sits on the banks of the Qom River.

This city is very important in Shi'a Islam. It is home to the shrine of Fatimah bint Musa. She was the sister of Imam Ali ibn Musa Rida, a very respected figure. Qom is the biggest center for Shi'a religious learning in the world. Millions of pilgrims visit the city every year. Most are Iranians, but many other Shi'a Muslims come from all over the world.

Qom is also a busy industrial city. It is close to Tehran, which helps its economy. The city is a key place for moving oil and gas products. Oil was found near Qom in 1956, which brought more wealth to the area. A large oil refinery was built between Qom and Tehran.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Qom

Some experts believe the word "Kom" in old names like "Komidan" meant "city." They think "Komiran" was an older name for Qom. This name might be linked to other city names in Iran, like "Tehran."

A Journey Through Time: Qom's History

Azam Mosque in Qom, a place of worship.

The city of Qom has a very long history. People have lived in this area for thousands of years. Early digs show that people settled here a long time ago. There are also old ruins from the Parthian and Seleucid times. One famous ruin is Khurha, southwest of Qom. Its purpose is still debated by historians.

Qom in Ancient Persia

During the Sasanian period, Qom was a small administrative center. Many old buildings and fire temples existed then. Some sources say the first Sasanian king, Ardashir I, fought important battles near Qom. This shows the area's importance even back then.

The Arrival of Arabs

The Arab conquest of Qom happened around 644 AD. Later, in the late 600s, a group of Ashaari Arabs settled in Qom. They came from Kufa and slowly bought land. They became very powerful in the region.

A Holy City Emerges

A very important event for Qom was the death of Fātimah bint Mūsā in 816-817 AD. She was the sister of the eighth Shi'a Imam. Her burial place grew into a magnificent shrine. This shrine made Qom a major pilgrimage site.

Challenges and Changes

Qom faced many challenges over the centuries. There were rebellions against taxes and conflicts with different rulers. The city was attacked by Turkish military leaders. Despite this, Qom grew as a center for Shi'a learning. Many important Shi'a scholars lived there.

The beautiful Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom.

Life in 10th Century Qom

By the 10th century, Qom was a mix of six original villages. The main center was Mamajjān. Bridges connected parts of the city across the river. There were mosques, a bazaar, and bathhouses. The city had good roads and gates.

However, Qom also faced economic problems. Many buildings were ruined, and farming suffered. This was due to high taxes and unstable times. The water supply system, managed by the Ashaaries, also declined.

Under Different Empires

Qom came under the rule of different empires, like the Seljuks and Buyids. The Seljuks, who were mostly Sunni, still had good relations with Qom's Shi'a leaders. Many religious buildings and schools were built during this time.

Mongol Invasion and Recovery

In 1224, the Mongol armies completely destroyed Qom. The city was in ruins for about 20 years. But slowly, it began to rebuild. Wealthy people helped repair the shrines of Shi'a saints. The city walls were likely rebuilt too.

Qom in Recent Times

In the late 1300s, Tamerlane plundered Qom. But during the Safavid dynasty, Qom grew again because of its religious shrine. It became a key center for Shi'a theology and pilgrimage by 1503.

The city suffered more damage during Afghan invasions and conflicts between ruling families. In 1793, Agha Muhammad Khan Qajar took control. Later, Fath Ali Shah Qajar helped repair the holy shrine.

Qom saw new growth in the Qajar era. In 1915, some people even thought about moving Iran's capital from Tehran to Qom. This idea did not happen. In the 20th century, Qom's religious learning center saw a big comeback. This was thanks to Shaykh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi.

More recently, in 1964-65, Ayatollah Khomeini led his opposition to the Pahlavi dynasty from Qom. In 2020, the first cases of COVID-19 in Iran were found in Qom.

People and Population

How Many People Live in Qom?

Qom's population has grown a lot over the years.

In 2006, about 957,496 people lived there.
By 2011, the population was 1,074,036.
In 2016, it reached 1,201,158 people.

Qom is a major center for Shi'a Muslims. Since the Iranian Revolution, the number of religious scholars has increased greatly. Many religious schools and research centers are in Qom. The city is home to the Fatima Masumeh Shrine and the Jamkaran Mosque, both very popular pilgrimage sites.

Where is Qom? Geography and Climate

Qom is located in a low plain, about 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of Tehran. It is on the edge of Iran's central desert.

Qom's Weather: Hot and Dry

Qom has a hot desert climate. This means it gets very little rain each year. Summers are very hot and dry. Winters can be warm, but sometimes they get very cold. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -23°C (-9°F) in January 2008. The hottest was 47°C (117°F) in July 2010.

Climate data for Qom (1986–2010, records 1986–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	23.4 (74.1)	26.5 (79.7)	35.5 (95.9)	37.0 (98.6)	41.8 (107.2)	45.9 (114.6)	47.0 (116.6)	45.6 (114.1)	42.3 (108.1)	37.7 (99.9)	31.0 (87.8)	22.5 (72.5)	47.0 (116.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	10.2 (50.4)	13.6 (56.5)	19.1 (66.4)	26.0 (78.8)	31.8 (89.2)	37.9 (100.2)	40.3 (104.5)	39.4 (102.9)	34.9 (94.8)	27.7 (81.9)	18.9 (66.0)	12.2 (54.0)	26.0 (78.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.2 (39.6)	7.1 (44.8)	12.0 (53.6)	18.3 (64.9)	23.6 (74.5)	29.1 (84.4)	31.8 (89.2)	30.3 (86.5)	25.2 (77.4)	19.0 (66.2)	11.5 (52.7)	6.1 (43.0)	18.2 (64.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−1.9 (28.6)	0.6 (33.1)	5.0 (41.0)	10.5 (50.9)	15.4 (59.7)	20.2 (68.4)	23.4 (74.1)	21.2 (70.2)	15.6 (60.1)	10.3 (50.5)	4.1 (39.4)	−0.1 (31.8)	10.4 (50.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−23.0 (−9.4)	−11.2 (11.8)	−11.0 (12.2)	−0.2 (31.6)	5.4 (41.7)	8.0 (46.4)	15.0 (59.0)	11.8 (53.2)	6.5 (43.7)	0.6 (33.1)	−11.0 (12.2)	−10.5 (13.1)	−23.0 (−9.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	25.4 (1.00)	20.5 (0.81)	27.7 (1.09)	20.2 (0.80)	10.4 (0.41)	2.3 (0.09)	0.7 (0.03)	0.3 (0.01)	0.8 (0.03)	6.2 (0.24)	14.3 (0.56)	19.4 (0.76)	148.2 (5.83)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	4.4	4.1	4.2	3.9	2.0	0.4	0.2	0.1	0.3	1.8	2.6	3.2	27.2
Average snowy days	3.1	1.4	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.9	5.8
Average relative humidity (%)	66	58	48	42	33	24	23	24	26	38	52	66	41
Mean monthly sunshine hours	185.0	194.0	221.5	233.3	296.6	351.5	354.5	347.3	309.9	263.4	204.9	172.7	3,134.6
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records), (temperatures), (precipitation), (humidity), (days with precipitation and snow), (sunshine)

How Qom is Governed

The city of Qom is led by a mayor. The mayor is chosen by a municipal board. The people living in Qom elect this board. The main office for the city's government is on Saheli Street.

Neighborhoods of Qom

Qom has many different neighborhoods. Some are older, and some are more modern.

Old Districts

Soltan Mohammad Sharif
Bagh Pambeh
Jouy Shour
Safaiyyeh
Sadough
Yakhchal Ghazi
Shah Ahmad Ghasim
Bagh Ashrafi
Darvaze Ghale'
Khandagh
Ghale Amou Hossein
Barassoun
Hammam Taalaar
Sang Band
Eshgh Ali
Tekyeh Agha Sayyed Hassan
Arabestan
Darvazeh Kashan
Sarbakhsh
Sar Howz
Alvandiyeh
Gozar Sadegh
Lab Chaal
Chehel Akhtaran
Razavia
Manba' Ab
Nikouyee
Nowbahar
Allouchou
Khak-Faraj
Haj Zaynal
Haj Khalil
Bagh Shazdeh
Chehel Derakht
Zad
Chahar Imamzadeh
Hanif Nizhad
Paminar
Qom Now
Maydan Now
Zandyan va Handyan
Darvazeh Choubi

Modern Districts

Tohid
Shahr-e-Gha'em
Panzdah-e-Khordad
Jahan Bini
Talighani Town
Baajak Town
Farhangian Town
Tavaneer Town
Fatimia Town
Imam Hassan Town
Imam Hossein Residential Area
Bonyad Residential Area
Mahdia Town
Imam Khomeini Town
Pardisan City
Safa Shahr
Qods Town

Visiting Qom: Tourism and Culture

The beautiful Jamkaran Mosque, a popular site.

Qom has many interesting historical and cultural places to visit. Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization lists 195 such sites!

Popular Places to See

Shrine of Fatimah al-Masumah: This is the most important religious site.
Jamkaran Mosque: Another very popular religious place.
Azam Mosque: A large and impressive mosque.
Qom Bazaar: A traditional market where you can find many things.
Feyzieh Religious School: An old and famous religious school.
Mar'ashi Najafi Library: A huge library with many old handwritten books.
Timcheh-ye-Bozorg (Grand Timcheh): A historic and grand building.
Gonbad Sabz Historical Garden: A beautiful garden with old tombs.
Ruhollah Khomeini's House: The former home of a very important religious leader.

Museums to Explore

Astaneh Moqaddaseh Museum (Qom Central Museum): Learn about Qom's history and culture.
Anthropology Museum Of Qom: Discover the human history of the region.
The Museum Of Traditional Arts: See local art and crafts.
The Museum Of Natural History & Wildlife: Explore nature and animals.
The Museum Of Astronomy: Learn about stars and space.

Learning in Qom: Educational Institutions

The Iranian Seminaries Management Centre.

Qom is famous for its many religious schools, called seminaries. These schools offer advanced religious studies. This makes Qom the biggest center for Shi'a scholarship in the world. About 50,000 students from 80 countries study here. There are also seminaries for women. Many schools teach modern subjects alongside religious studies.

Qom Seminary (Hawzah 'Ilmiyya Qom)

The Hawzah is a large network of over 200 education and research centers. It serves more than 40,000 scholars and students. The modern Qom Hawzah was revived about a century ago.