An Analysis of the Interactions between Imami Jurists and Safavid Kings, with Special Reference to the Views of Rula Jurdi Abisa῾ab

Abstract



Despite the considerable number of studies conducted to date on the Safavid era, particularly regarding the relations between religious scholars (ulema) and the sultans, this subject remains a matter of reflection and requires further investigation. The present article revisits the relationship between Imami jurists and the Safavid monarchy based on analyses by Rula Jurdi Abisaab, a contemporary orientalist. The central question addressed is: how did prominent Shi’i jurists during the Safavid period balance the roles of legitimizing the monarchy, independent political agency, and political critique? The research method is descriptive-analytical, and through a case study of the relations between six influential jurists—Muhaqqiq al-Karaki, Husayn ibn ‘Abd al-Samad, Shaykh Baha’i, Mulla ‘Abdullah Shushtari, Shaykh Lutfullah al-Maysi, and Shaykh al-Hurr al-‘Amili—and the Safavid monarchs, a dynamic and bilateral pattern of interaction between the institution of jurisprudence and the monarchy is illustrated. This pattern is grounded in “legitimacy exchange” and mutual dependency for the preservation of authority. The findings indicate that this interaction was neither simple nor one-sided, but rather a complex process shaped by the political context, the personalities of the kings, and the juristic orientations of the ulema. In conclusion, the article demonstrates that this historical experience aligns with some fundamental concepts of Shi’i political jurisprudence, such as the general guardianship of the jurist (wilayat al-faqih) and religious supervision over political power.