Religions in Iran

The official state religion in Iran is Islam, to be specific the Shiite branch of Islam which consists of roughly more than 90% of the population. Less than 10% identify as Sunni and Sufi sects of Islam. Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism are protected and recognized by the Iranian officials, and have seats and representatives in the Iranian Parliament.

The Jewish community in Iran is the second largest, after Israel in the Middle East and one of the oldest in the world with their continuous presence since the Achaemenid Empire. The biggest non-Muslim minorities are the Christians and the Bahai’s. The Bahai’s have been under prosecution in Iran after the 1979 revolution and their religion isn’t officially recognized.

Mandaeism

Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a ritual cleansing during an annual baptism held on the Karoun River banks. Water is everything to the Sabean Mandeans who are baptised in it, get married, and receive their last rites by the river’s edge. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers surrounding the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a ritual cleansing during an annual baptism held on the banks of the Karoon River. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers that surround the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
A Sabean Mandean holy man performs a ritual act on banks of Karoon, Ahvaz, Iran. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers that surround the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a ritual cleansing during an annual baptism held on the Karoun River banks. Water is everything to the Sabean Mandeans who are baptised in it, get married, and receive their last rites by the river’s edge. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers surrounding the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a ritual cleansing during an annual baptism held on the Karoun River banks. Water is everything to the Sabean Mandeans who are baptised in it, get married, and receive their last rites by the river’s edge. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers surrounding the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a ritual cleansing during an annual baptism held on the Karoon River banks. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers surrounding the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a religious ritual at the banks of Karun, Ahvaz, Iran. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers that surround the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Members of the ancient Sabean Mandean religious sect perform a religious ritual. Sabeans are a pre-Christian sect that follows the teachings of John the Baptist. The religion has been practised primarily around the lower Karun, Euphrates and Tigris and the rivers surrounding the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran.

Qaderi Dervishes 

Dervishes from the Kasnazani Tariqa order while doing Sama at a proselytism ceremony. Sama refers to the unique and mystic dhikr and dancing in whirls. Dervishes perform with the purpose of spiritual ascent in their journey to reach perfection. The polytheism ceremonies denoted Ershad are held for one month annually, with each day at a different village in Kurdistan; these ceremonies include performing special rituals involving extraordinary deeds and dhikr in an attempt to invite people to Tariqa. These acts are meant to show the incredible metaphysical power of the dervishes. Ghaderiyyah Tariqa is one of the main Tariqa’s in Kurdistan with many followers.

Dervishes from the Kasnazani Tariqa order are preforming Sama at an annual proselytism ceremony.s.

Dervishes from the Kasnazani Tariqa order are preforming Sama at an annual proselytism ceremony.

Portrait of a Dervish from the Kasnazani Tariqa order..
Portrait of a Dervish from the Kasnazani Tariqa order.
Portrait of a Dervish from the Kasnazani Tariqa order.
Dervish from the Kasnazani Tariqa order brushing his hair.
Dervish from the Kasnazani Tariqa order brushing his hair.
Snow covered winter view of Kurdistan, Iran.

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is known to be the first monotheistic religion of the world according to most historians. Once it was the dominant pre-islamic religion of the Iranian people dating back to 6th or 7th century BCE (if not earlier). Approximately 26,000 currently reside in Iran according to the Iranian census.Communities reside in major cities of Yazd, Kerman, Tehran, and Kermanshah.

A Zoroastrian man and a woman burn candles during a ceremony to mark Sadeh, an ancient feast celebrating fire creation. This feast has been observed since their religion was the dominant belief in the mighty Persian empire.
Zoroastrians attend the annual Sadeh festival in Yazd. Sadeh is an ancient Persian festival celebrated by lighting a huge bonfire to honour fire and defeat the forces of darkness, frost, and cold. Sadeh means ‘hundred’ and refers to one hundred days and nights past the end of summer.

Zoroastrians pray in Chak Chak, a mountain shrine, some 370 miles outheast of the capital Tehran, Iran. believers gathered to remember Nikbanou, a heroine of the faith who according to tradition took shelter in the mountain and prayed for help. Miraculously, the mountain was said to have opened up and given protection to the princess, the youngest daughter of the last king of the Persian Sassanian empire.
Zoroastrians gather around a massive bonfire during the annual Sadeh festival in Yazd. Sadeh is an ancient Persian festival celebrated by lighting a huge bonfire to honour fire and defeat the forces of darkness, frost, and cold. Sadeh means ‘hundred’ and refers to one hundred days and nights past the end of summer.
Zoroastrian priests at Sadeh traditional ceremony in Cham Village.
Zoroastrians gather around a massive bonfire during the annual Sadeh festival in Yazd. Sadeh is an ancient Persian festival celebrated by lighting a huge bonfire to honour fire and defeat the forces of darkness, frost, and cold. Sadeh means ‘hundred’ and refers to one hundred days and nights past the end of summer.

The Inside view of Chak Chak shrine. The village of Chak Chak, also known as Pir’e Sabz, is located in the mountains of Kharanaq, near Ardakan county in Yazd. The most sacred shrines of Zoroastrians consist of a towering cliff face in central Iran’s desert.
Candles are lit up by Zoroastrians who attend Sadeh festival to mark Sadeh, an ancient feast celebrating fire creation.
A view of Yazd city from the top of a Dakhma which is also known as “Tower of Silence”. These are circular raised structures traditionally used by Zoroastrians in their death rituals.

Iranian Jews

Iranian Jewish community in Iran dates back to Biblical times with references of their lives in books of Daniel, Esther and Ezra to name a few. They are one of the oldest, most historically significant communities with a continuous presence and are direct descendants associated with the Persian Empire.
The Iranian Jews are officially state recognized and hold seats in the Iranian Parliament, they are also the largest population in the Middle East after Israel. Currently about 8,500 reside in Iran.

An Iranian Jewish man says his daily prayers, wearing special ritual clothes and standing among his fellow religious men in a synagogue, Tehran.
Iranian Jewish men unveil their much adorned holy scroll from chamber Aron Kodesh, as a part of their daily prayer in a synagogue, Tehran.
An Iranian Jewish man says his daily prayers, wearing special ritual clothes and standing among his fellow religious men in a synagogue, Tehran.
An Iranian Jewish young boy says his prayers wearing special ritual clothes and reads bible in a synagogue in Tehran.
An Iranian Jewish man says his daily prayers, wearing special ritual clothes and standing among his fellow religious men in a synagogue, Tehran.
A gravedigger in a Jewish cemetery in Tehran digging graves for the deceased.
An Iranian Jewish cemetery in Tehran, with huge marble stones, Persian and Hebrew writings and a star of David on some of the graves.
An old Jewish tombstone, dating back to more than six decades ago according to the Hebrew writings on it.

Christianity

Persian-Armenians (Iranian-Armenians) are Iranians of Armenian ethnicity who live in Iran with their first language being Armenian. Making them the largest Christian community and religious minority in the country. The interaction between Persia and Armenia dates back to Antiquity, many monasteries, churches and chapels are located in Northwestern Iran.
Armenians hold two seats at the Iranian Parliament as opposed to one like other religious minority groups. The estimated number of Persian-Armenians is somewhere in between 70,000 up to 200,000 with communities living in Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan’s Jolfa, and Salmas.

An Iranian Christian priest swings a censer during the religious act of prayer in a church in Tehran.
An Iranian Christian priest holds out his hand for young believers to kiss as a part of weekly prayer in a church in Tehran.
Iranian Christians say their weekly prayers collectively along the pews in a church in Tehran.
Iranian Christians light candles after their weekly prayers as an act of piety in a church in Tehran.
Iranian Armenian graves with crosses, pictures and Armenian writings on them in a cemetery dedicated to Armenian Christians in Tehran.
Avarayr metal band performs live in a group of Armenian rock and metal fans.
An Armenian folk dance group is performing the dance on the sidelines of the religious ceremony of the St. Thaddeus Monastery.
A view of The Saint Stepanos Monastery at night.
An abstract design of the United States flag on a government building wall in the capital, adjacent to the Armenian Cathedral of Tehran.
Zartonk Armenian folk dance crew is preparing to run the children’s section at the Ararat Hall of Tehran.
An Armenian teenage girl is lighting candle in the St. Thaddeus Monastery.

Shiite

An Iranian Shiite clergy speaks about third Shiite Imam and the battle of Karbala, for women and men in a mosque as a part of celebrating Ashoura rituals. Ashoura, a major holy day and religious occasion, is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar, marking the day Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, was martyred in the Battle of Karbala.
Iranian Shiite men, wearing black mourning garment and hat, hold a dish of apples, standing in rows to sing liturgic hymns as a part of celebrating Ashoura rituals and putting clay on their clothes and body to show sadness. The green flag reads the name of third Shiite Imam?s brother, Abalfazl al Abbas, also martyred in Ashoura. Ashoura, a major holy day and religious occasion, is the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar, marking the day Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, was martyred in the Battle of Karbala.
Mohammad Reza, 62 years old, is playing a role in a religious ceremony to commemorate Ashura. Ashura, the tenth day of the month of Muharram, marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in a battle near Karbala in the 7th century. Imam Hussein holds a particularly significant role in Shia Islam and the anniversary is observed with mourning rituals, somber processions, ceremonies, and plays.
Mohammad, a 10 year old boy, is seated above Reyhane, an 8 year old girl. They are both playing roles in a religious ceremony to commemorate Ashura. Ashura, the tenth day of the month of Muharram, marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in a battle near Karbala in the 7th century. Imam Hussein holds a particularly significant role in Shia Islam and the anniversary is observed with mourning rituals, somber processions, ceremonies, and plays.
The residents of ?Kharv Sofla” neighborhood are holding the ritual ceremony of “ensign show”. ?Kharv Sofla” neighborhood in the city of “Kharv” is one of the functions of Zebarkhan city in Khorasan Razavi province. “Ensign” is used as a religious and traditional symbol in the mourning ceremony of the third Shiite Imam, and the villagers mourn by raising “ensign”.
A view of the Quran which is decorated with string lights at the puberty celebration. Sanaz is a 9-year-old girl and an Iranian Shia Muslim girl who has invited to the puberty celebration, called Jashn-e Taklif, from her school in her county. and also she is her birthday at the same time. The starting of Puberty in a child who has reached the age of maturity in Islam, and now onwards has full responsibility for her acts under Islamic Law. When it comes to the age of maturity every religion has its own individual concepts on it. Puberty is the point where a girl becomes accountable to Allah for her all the actions thereby taken onwards according to Islam.
Muslim girls are taking off their veils, Called Chador, after the puberty celebration. Sanaz is a 9-year-old girl and an Iranian Shia Muslim girl who has invited to the puberty celebration, called Jashn-e Taklif, from her school in her county. and also she is her birthday at the same time. The starting of Puberty in a child who has reached the age of maturity in Islam, and now onwards has full responsibility for her acts under Islamic Law. When it comes to the age of maturity every religion has its own individual concepts on it. Puberty is the point where a girl becomes accountable to Allah for her all the actions thereby taken onwards according to Islam.
A view of Gift Prayer rugs with artificial flowers and a book about the girls’ puberty at the celebration. Sanaz is a 9-year-old girl and an Iranian Shia Muslim girl who has invited to the puberty celebration, called Jashn-e Taklif, from her school in her county. and also she is her birthday at the same time. The starting of Puberty in a child who has reached the age of maturity in Islam, and now onwards has full responsibility for her acts under Islamic Law. When it comes to the age of maturity every religion has its own individual concepts on it. Puberty is the point where a girl becomes accountable to Allah for her all the actions thereby taken onwards according to Islam.
A group of Iranian Muslim men adorn themselves in red and prepare for roles in a religious carnival on the eighth day of Muharram.
Iranian Shiites gather in the yard of a holy shrine, wearing particular garments, to say collective evening prayers.
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