Ali Akbar Tashakori Bafghi
Abstract
Moghul's invasion of Iran led to the spread of insecurity, destruction of civil infrastructure and religious-ideological vacuum caused by the toppling of the kingdom. This not only improved the status of Sufism as the center of attention for the common people to avoid the governors' tyranny but also ...
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Moghul's invasion of Iran led to the spread of insecurity, destruction of civil infrastructure and religious-ideological vacuum caused by the toppling of the kingdom. This not only improved the status of Sufism as the center of attention for the common people to avoid the governors' tyranny but also made the faraway areas an ideal place for the cultural elites. Given the above, Yazd was considered as one of the central areas for attracting Sufism because of the Atabaks’ policies in maintaining relative peace and security on the one hand and the Ale Mozaffar's leadership on the other hand. Sufists shared a number of features which included running a simple life, inviting people to submission and trust in God, coordinating with the religion and avoiding interference in the administrative affairs. As a result, the Sufists were appealing to both governors and common people from two perspectives: legitimizing the power structure and soothing the social problems. Therefore, while the positive tendency of the governors and local authorities led to the construction and financial support of Sufi centers, the Sufi shaykhs' dignity represented their reputation and distinction from the common people. The present paper endeavors to study the Sufism status in Yazd during the 8th century A.H taking into account the prevailing views of the time, social reputation of the Sufi shaykhs and the support rendered by the local authorities as well as the Mozaffari rulers.
