Imamzadeh Mohammad ibn Hanfiya (Imamzadeh Qolqoli or Ghaltan)

 Imamzadeh Mohammad ibn Hanfiya (Imamzadeh Qolqoli or Ghaltan)

His real name is «Mohammad ibn Hanfiya»; but the local people have called him «Imamzadeh Qolqoli» or «Ghaltan». The story of this name is rooted in the narration of some people who believe that to have their wishes granted, one must roll along a path.

Imamzadeh Hanfiya or Qolqoli can be found on the Qazvin-Gilan road, 15 kilometers from the city of «Loushan» and in the elevated village of «Bivorzan». The shrine of this Imamzadeh is built at an altitude of 1045 meters. Its foundation was laid during the Buyid dynasty, and in every era, this building has been restored in some way; however, the historical building of the Imamzadeh completely collapsed in the Rudbar earthquake of 1989 and was rebuilt. Now its shape resembles most Imamzadehs seen in the north of the country, a brick cubic building with green metal doors and windows and golden dome and minarets.

Imamzadeh Mohammad ibn Hanfiya, Imamzadeh Qolqoli or Ghaltan, the tomb of Imamzadeh Mohammad ibn Hanfiya

Imamzadeh Hanfiya is mostly known by the local people and Gilaks; but by the same name «Qolqoli». Every year, many people come to this Imamzadeh on the occasion of the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for pilgrimage, and many believe that to have their wishes granted, they must roll inside this Imamzadeh.

Little information about this Imamzadeh can be found on the Gilan Rudbar governorate portal, but not under the name Imamzadeh Qolqoli or Ghaltan, rather under the name Mohammad ibn Hanfiya; however, it is this strange local name that has attracted many people's attention and even drawn them to this place, a name that has remained from oral traditions and apparently there is no written document confirming the people's behavior in this Imamzadeh to have their wishes granted.

It is narrated that this Imamzadeh is called Qolqoli because during Hanfiya's lifetime, he fell into a well or was thrown into a well, his horse dropped a rope into the well and by rolling, Mohammad ibn Hanfiya was brought out. Another narration exists; there was a conflict between one of the Imamzadehs and infidels, and in a place known as the martyrdom site, he (Mohammad ibn Hanfiya) was struck and fell from his horse and rolled from that place to his current burial site and was martyred. For this reason, for years, people who come to this Imamzadeh roll along a path according to these narrations to have their wishes granted.

They lie down in front of the entrance of the Imamzadeh, make a wish, then roll down the stairs, and then roll back to their original place, believing that if they are not harmed during this rolling, their wish will be granted.

Of course, it is not clear whether the Endowment Organization, which is responsible for Imamzadehs in the country, has ever taken any action to investigate these narrations and the existence of documents confirming the people's beliefs or not.