Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic History, Faculty of History, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.
2
PhD Student in Twelver Shi'a History, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.
10.22034/shistu.2026.2071176.2548
Abstract
One of the noteworthy phenomena in the political history of Khorasan during the 8th and 9th centuries AH is the active presence of certain Alid figures and Sufi-oriented Sayyids at the forefront or within the core of political movements. This study seeks to answer the central question of whether this presence was primarily influenced by their Sayyid lineage and descent from the Prophet’s family, or whether it was more deeply rooted in other factors such as Sufi networks, local power structures, and crises of legitimacy. Using a historical-analytical method and based on library sources, the research provides case analyses of select movements and figures, including the Sarbadars, the Nurbakhshiyya, and Sayyids of Nishapur. Findings indicate that while Sayyid status occasionally served as a source of legitimacy or a means of attracting followers, the political agency of these groups largely emerged within complex socio-historical contexts. Their influence stemmed from a combination of spiritual authority, social capital derived from Sufi leadership, and strategic responses to power vacuums. Moreover, Sufism, as a network-based structure, enabled the convergence of lineage, spiritual authority, and political potential. This study offers a multi-factorial perspective on the intersection of Sayyid identity, Sufism, and politics, and avoids mono-causal interpretations.
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