Analyzing the Socio-historical Relationship between Sufism, Diplomacy and Power in Iran at Mongol Era

Subject Areas : Islamic Mysticism

Mahdi Janaliyan ¹ (عضو هیأت علمی دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران. [e-mail])

Received: 2021-02-20 Accepted : 2021-04-30 Published : 2023-09-23

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Abstract :

The leading research aims to analyze the type of political-social relations of Sufi mysticism with the sphere of politics and political power in Iran under the Mongol dynasty. In this case, it explores the period between 1200 AD and 1500 AD with an analytical and historical method. The important question is that Sufi mysticism in the above historical conditions, did they enter into converging and important relations with the sultans and Mongol dynasty, or did they turn to divergent and confrontational relations, or at least isolationist? In response, it is stated that the tolerant spirit of the Mongols, the structural homogeneity between the status of magicians and the beliefs of the Mongols with the dignity of mystics and the teachings of mystics, and the need of the Mongols to transform hard power into authority through legitimizing power, together cause attention, respect, and assistance. The financial and even political advice of the Mongol sultans was compared to the old Sufis. In such a situation, some Sufi schools relied on their spiritual power, disciplinary power, and knowledge to cooperate and legitimize the secular government. But another group turned away from convergence with political power. Also, the political power of Mongol was influenced by the spiritual power, the disciplinary power, and the knowledge that was reminiscent of Sufi mysticism. Therefore, in the network of power relations, power flowed not only from the top to the bottom, but from the bottom to the top (although unequally). Here, monasteries appear as a focus for the exercise of spiritual power and disciplinary power of mystics and Sufis.