Alawids of Khorasan and their Inter/intra-Group Relations from 4th to 6th Century: a Case Study of Neyshb+r's Rab Region

Alawids, due to their genealogical relation with the Prophet, have always been respected in the Islamic society. Some groups of them moved, for different reasons, to Muslim regions in the 2nd century. North and central regions of Iran were among those lands. With Imam Reza’s arrival in Iran at the end of 3rd century and his residence in Khorasan, the emigration of Alawids to Iran, and especially to Khorasan, increased. The Rab’ region of Neysh9b.r – which was oneof the greatest regions of Khorasan in the Islamic period, and included T.s, Isfar9yen, Sarakhs, Beyhaq, Nes9, and Ab+ward – was one of the destinations for emigrants. During the 3rd century and after it, the Alawids descended from Imam Hassan, Imam Hussein, Imam Ja’far, and Imam Mus9 resided in that region. The widespread presence of Alawid families in that region and their increase in population prepared a proper cultural, doctrinal and economic context for their continual emigration. This population density was effective in creation of the office of neqbat (directorship) for Alawids in Neysh9b.r. While the person holding the neqbat office was responsible for almost all the affairs of Alawids, the Alawids were diverse in their religious leanings and other features, which was effective in their relationships