More than 20 million attend funeral prayers for Iran's martyred leader and his family

Crescent International

Muharram 20, 1448 2026-07-05

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

In the largest funeral prayer gathering ever recorded in human history, more than 20 million people packed the Grand Musalla and the surrounding areas in Tehran on July 5.

Five coffins, draped in Iran’s flag, were placed on a raised platform visible from every corner of the huge Musalla.

The coffins were those of Shaheed Leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, his daughter Seyyeda Bushra Hosseini, son-in-law Dr Misbah Bagher Kani, daughter-in-law Zahra Haddad Adel, and grand-daughter, 14-month-old Zahra Mohammadi Golpayagani.

A red flag symbolizing the blood of innocents and calling for revenge, was also placed near the coffins.

The shaheed leader had on many occasions in the past delivered the Jumu‘ah khutbah and led the prayers at the Musalla.

Today, his funeral prayers were being offered.

They were led by Ayatullah Ja‘far Sobhani, a senior religious scholar from Qom.

Three of Shaheed leader’s sons—Seyyed Mostafa, Seyyed Meysam and Seyyed Masoud—were also present for the funeral prayers.

The new Supreme Leader, Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei was not there because of security measures.

Almost all the ulama of Qom attended the funeral prayers.

Iran’s top civil and military leadership openly wept during the funeral prayers.

Dr Haddad Adel, father of Zahra, the wife of Ayatullah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, also openly wept during the funeral prayers.

He was seen handing water bottles to people while weeping.

A senior academic and former speaker of the Majlis (parliament), Dr Haddad Adel is known to be a very patient person and in control of his emotions.

Yet, on this occasion, even he was overcome by emotions, both at the loss of his daughter as well as the loss of the Supreme Leader with whom he had worked closely from before the latter’s elevation to the position of Wali-e Faqih in June 1989.

While the millions of mourner openly wept for the martyred leader, they also called for revenge against the perpetrators of this dastardly crime.

Shouts of “Inteqaam” (revenge) were repeatedly heard.

In a heart-wrenching comment, people said that we used to raise the slogan, “O Supreme Leader, we will sacrifice our lives for you. Yet, he sacrificed his life for us.”

There were tight security measures in place to prevent any untoward incidents.

Further, crowd control measures prevented any injuries to people or getting emotional to cause disruption.

Such massive attendance at the shaheed leader’s funeral also sent a clear message to the enemies of the Islamic Republic.

The state is in full control.

The masses are fully backing it.

The enemies’ criminal acts will neither succeed nor go unpunished.

The shaheed leader’s coffin will be taken through the streets of Tehran on July 6 for people to say their last farewell.

From Tehran, the body will be taken to Qom, Iran’s major religious centre, for more ceremonies and prayers.

From there, the body will be flown to Najaf in Iraq and then to Karbala.

This is being done at the request of the Iraqi leadership.

A special prayer ceremony has been planned at Najaf airport.

From Najaf, the body will be taken to Karbala, where the shrines of Imam Ali (as) and his son Imam Hussein (as) are located.

Karbala is considered the most revered place in Shi‘i Islam.

After the rites in Karbala, the body will be flown to Mashhad for burial on Thursday July 9.

Mashhad is the final resting place of Imam Raza (as).

The shaheed Leader was born in Mashhad and his final resting place will also be there.