Reflections of Shi'a Beliefs in the Illustrated Manuscripts of “Tārīkh-i Balaʿmī” from the Ilkhanid Era

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Hadi Ghaempanah ¹

Khashayar Ghazizadeh ²

Parviz Haseli ³

¹ PhD Candidate, Comparative-Analytical History of Islamic Art, Islamic Art Department, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

² Associate Professor and Faculty Member, Islamic Art Department, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

³ Assistant Professor and Faculty Member, Islamic Art Department, Faculty of Art, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

10.22067/jhistory.2025.93544.1380

Abstract

The illustrated manuscript of “Tārīkh-i Balaʿmī” from the Ilkhanid era is the oldest surviving illustrated copy of this book and one of the earliest illustrated historical texts in the Persian language. This article aims at studying and identifying the reflection of Shīʿī concepts and beliefs in the illustrations of this manuscript, as well as answering this question: From which aspects can Shi’i beliefs be traced and identified in the illustrations of the “Tārīkh-i Balaʿmī” manuscript from the Ilkhanid era? The article uses descriptive-analytical and historical approaches and collects data through library and documentary methods. The investigations carried out highlight the emergence and reflection of Shīʿī beliefs in the illustrations of the aforementioned manuscript. These beliefs can be traced and identified from the following aspects: 1. Reflection of the concept of ḥadīs-i saqalayn and emphasis on the esteemed status of the ʾAhl al-Bayt (the Prophet's household) and purity (peace be upon them) in the genealogy of the Prophet (peace be upon him). 2. The reflection of ʿAlavī thought in several illustrations; with a focus on the prominent role and status of Imam Ali as the faithful companion of the Prophet, as the heroic champion of the Islamic path, and as the first in line of Shīʿī Imamate. 3. The presence of only a few respectable illustrations of the three righteous caliphs.

Keywords

Ilkhanid Era Art

Illustration

“Tārīkh-i Balaʿmī”

Shi'a

Subjects

• History of Islamic Arts

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