Abstract:
One of the worthy subjects for investigation in the field of Seljuk era history is the status of Islamic religions and sects under their territory. At a time when the Abbasid Caliphate had reached its lowest point of decline due to continuous sectarian conflicts, the emergence of the Seljuks in Iran paved the way for the re-strengthening of the Sunni religion. The Jibal province, as one of the important regions of Seljuk-era Iran, was of great importance due to its strategic position connecting the east and west of the Abbasid Caliphate. The diversity of various Shia and Sunni sects and religions and the dispersion of the supporters of these religions in different cities of this province made the role of the Jibal province in the medieval history of Iran, especially the Seljuk period, more prominent. This research, based on information contained in geographical and historical books about the western cities of the Jibal province during the Seljuk period, attempts to clarify the religious position of this region. The findings of this research show that alongside the presence of the Zaydi and Ismaili Shia minorities in the Jibal region, most sources emphasize the Shafi'i nature of these cities during this period.
Machine summary:
Religious Geography of the Western Cities of the Jibal Province in the Seljuk Era One of the worthy subjects for investigation in the field of Seljuk era history is the status of Islamic sects and schools of thought under their rule.
The present research, based on information contained in geographical and historical books regarding the western cities of the Jibal province during the Seljuk period, attempts to clarify the religious status of this region.
Seljuks, Jibal province, religious geography, Islamic sects and schools, Shafi'is Introduction The Jibal province has enjoyed significant importance during most historical periods of Iran.
It is worth mentioning that the present article aims to examine the religious geography of the cities in the western province of Jibal, which includes cities such as: Hamadan, Nahavand, Asadabad, Dargazin, Kermanshah (Qarmisin), Dinavar, and Shahrazur.
The present article, using a descriptive-analytical method and a library-based data collection approach, attempts to answer this important question: what was the religious geography of the western cities of the Jibal province during the Seljuk period?
Ibn Rasteh has titled Jibal under the section related to 'Divisions of Iranshahr,' and according to him, the districts of the Jibal region are: Masbadhan, Mehrjanqadhq, Nahavand, Dinawar, Hamadan, and Qom. This geographer [lists] Rey, Qumis, Isfahan, Shahr-e Zur, Samghan, Darabad, Qazvin, Jurjan, .
Also, Ibn Kathir mentions Abu Sa'id Hamadani Saffar as the Shafi'i mufti of the cities of Hamadan in the fourth century AH.
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