Sufi Saint of Jam - History, Religion, and Politics of a Sunni Shrine in Shi''i Iran

Spanning 900 years of history, this book explores the genesis, florescence, degeneration, and regeneration of the 'saint cult' and shrine-complex of Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad-i Jam. Cult and shrine fell into decline under Iran's first Shi'i shahs, but are enjoying a renaissance under the Ayatollahs despite being an adamantly Sunni institution.

List of contents

Introduction; Part I. The Saint: 1. Biography and Hagiography; 2 Saintdom and Patronage; Part II. The Successors: 3: Ilkhanid/Kartid Eras to the Timurid Age; 4: Safavid/Mughal Eras to the Islamic Republic; Part III. The Shrine: 5. Setting, Architecture and Administration; 6. Agro- and Hydro-Management; 7. Public Service in the Catchment Area; 8. Sacred Topography and Islamic Learning; Part IV. The Sufis: 9. Doctrines and Practices; Conclusion.

About the author

Shivan Mahendrarajah is a Research Fellow with the Institute of Iranian Studies, School of History, University of St Andrews. He is the co-editor of Afghanistan: The Journal of the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies. He has traveled extensively in the Islamic world, and returns often to Afghanistan and Iran. Shivan was educated at Columbia University and the University of Cambridge; and studied Arabic at Damascus University and Persian at the University of Tehran.

Summary

Spanning 900 years of history, this book explores the genesis, florescence, degeneration, and regeneration of the 'saint cult' and shrine-complex of Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad-i Jam. Cult and shrine fell into decline under Iran's first Shi?i shahs, but are enjoying a renaissance under the Ayatollahs despite being an adamantly Sunni institution.

Product details

• Authors: Shivan Mahendrarajah, Shivan (University of St Andrews Mahendrarajah
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 10.11.2022
• EAN: 9781108813570
• ISBN: 978-1-108-81357-0
• No. of pages: 306
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Islam, HISTORY / Middle East / General, RELIGION / Islam / General, RELIGION / Mysticism, mysticism, Middle Eastern history, Sufism & Islamic Mysticism, Islamic groups: Sufis