Sufism in Azerbaijan during the Interregnum (736-813 A.H. / 1336-1411 A.D.): Focusing on the Relationship Between Sheikhs and Sultans

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Parisa Ghorbannejad

Associate Professor at the Department of The History of Islamic Culture and Civilization, Faculty of Theology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

10.22067/jhistory.2026.94944.1396

Abstract

The present research analyzes Sufism in Azerbaijan during the Period of Interregnum (736-813 A.H. / 1336-1411 A.D) and its impact on the social, political, and economic relations of the region. Following the collapse of the Ilkhanid state, the emergence of local governments of the ʾAl-i Chūpān and ʾAl-i Jalāyir dynasties transformed Sufism into a tool for legitimizing these governments and consolidating political power. The present study analyzes the relationship between ṣūfī sheikhs and sultans in order to determine how ṣūfīsm (as a social and political institution) influenced governmental decisions and social policies. Additionally, the impact of religious institutions such as ṣūfī lodges (Khānqāh) and endowments on the social and economic cohesion of Azerbaijan during the period of crisis is studied.
The article employs a descriptive-analytical approach and social theories and examines how local rulers utilized the influence of sheikhs to strengthen their legitimacy, while ṣūfīsm gradually transformed from a spiritual and independent force into a tool in the hands of governments. Findings indicate that ṣūfīsm in this period not only had spiritual effects but also played a fundamental role in local power structures and paved the way for major historical developments in Azerbaijan and the formation of the Safavid state.

Keywords

ṣūfīsm

Azerbaijan ʾAl-i Chūpān

ʾAl-i Jalāyir

Safavid Order

Subjects

• History of Islamic Civilization

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