From Peasantry to Tariqa: Examining the Role of the Village in Safavid Tariqa from the Perspective of Safwat al-Safa

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 PhD student in Post-Islamic Iranian History, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran,

2 Associate Professor, Department of History, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author)

3 Professor, Department of History, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Abstract:


During the medieval period of Iran, particularly from the seventh to ninth centuries AH, significant transformations occurred in social and economic institutions. Among these, the Safavid Sufi order emerged as a highly influential movement, deeply rooted in rural communities. The primary focus of this study is to explore how villages are portrayed as sanctified spaces in Ibn Bazzaz Ardabili’s Safvat al-Safa and the role of this portrayal in legitimizing the Safavid order. The key question is how the Safavid order, by emphasizing the rural and agricultural origins of its founders, constructed a divine-popular identity, and how the miracles attributed to Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili strengthened ties with rural communities. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and interpretive method, this study examines the role of villages in the Safavid order and their contribution to legitimizing its early leaders. Findings indicate that Safvat al-Safa sanctifies rural geography and depicts Sheikh Safi as a “rural mystic,” forging an inseparable link between mysticism and village life. The study concludes that Safvat al-Safa is not merely a historical record but an ideological project to establish the spiritual legitimacy of the Safavid leaders. By blending mythical and historical elements, it presents a model of interaction between Sufi leaders and rural communities, emphasizing the simplicity and sincerity of villagers and showcasing Sheikh Safi’s miracles in resolving their issues, thus crafting a pious and popular image of the Safavid leaders.

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  • Receive Date 01 June 2025
  • Revise Date 12 August 2025
  • Accept Date 12 August 2025