Investigating Factors Affecting the Inclinations
of Mongol Ilkhanids towards Shia Holy Sites

Ahmad Fazlinejad[1]

Abstract

After the collapse of the Abbasid government and establishment of Ilkhanid dynasty in Iran, Shia Muslims could perform their religious ceremonies and rituals with more freedom. They resisted the destruction of the holy sites in Atabat with the help of Khajeh Nassir al-Tusi and Shia scholars in Iraq. Afterwards, Shia scholars worked for making Mongol Sultans pay tribute to the holy sites of Ahl al-Bayt by penetrating into Ilkhanid court, composing dissertations, and holding negotiation meetings. Iranian statesmen and ministers played a significant role by enacting constructional plans in the holy cities and performing rituals there. Accordingly, during Ghazan and Aljaito the popularity of religious cities increased and the academic, economic and religious prosperity and welfare of the Shia Muslims and Sadaat improved. The present study aims at studying the factors affecting the tendency of the Ilkhanids towards Shia holy sites and its consequent effects on further transformations in the Iranian society as well as the actions of the Ilkhanids. One of the findings of the study is that Shia scholars and Iranian statesmen could make Mongol Ilkhanids quit one of their long-lasting customs, i.e., concealing the tombs of their leaders like Genghis khan and early Ilkhanids. Contrary to that, leaders like Ghazan and Oljaito contributed to the cultural and economic prosperity of the land by constructing glorious mausoleums for themselves and founding schools, charity houses, and the like.