Religion Geography of Western Cities of Jibal State in Saljuqid Era

Abstract

One of the issues deserving to be investigated in the history domain of Saljuqid era is the status of Islamic religions as well as the sects under their domination. When Abbasid caliph were about to fall down, the advent of Saljuqids in Iran provided the ground for the re- strengthening of Sunnite religion. Jibal state as one of the important areas of Iran in Saljuqid era was of great significance due to having the strategic position and element of union between the east and west of Abbasid caliph. Variety in the sects, the Shiite and Sunnite religions and the distribution of the followers of these religions in different cities of this state had made more salient the role of Jibal state in the middle history of Iran particularly in Saljuqid time. Relying on the information present in the historical and geographical books related to the western cities of Jibal state in time of Saljuqids, the present research is to clarify the religious position of this area. The findings of this research illustrates that along with the Shiite Zaidi and Ismaelite minority in Jibal state, all the sources put emphasis on cities of this era as being Shafe’ee.

Keywords

• saljuqids
• jibal state
• religion geography
• islamic sects and religions
• shafe’ees