The Position Of Khorasan in the Religious Policy of Safavid Kings

Shiism was proclaimed and established as the only official religion of Iran in 907 A.H. by Shah Ismail I. The extremist and fanatic policies of Safavid king about Shiism led to harmful results for Iran and especially for Khorasan that was neighbor to Sunnite kingdom of Transoxania. Sheibanid dynasty that was found by Sheibak Khan Uzbak was nearly contemporary to Safavid Dynasty. His founder was a warlike and fanatic man who was very opposed to prejudices of Safavid king. However he was killed in the battle of Marv the rushes of Uzbaks continued throughout Safavid area and the patient and oppressed inhabitants of Khorasan paid the price of the imprudence of their statesmen. Khorasan in Safavid area was counted as one of the old cultural and religious centers of Iran and the site of adherents of Ahl al-Bayt and the tomb of Imam Reza duplicate this position. Safavid dynasty as the promoter of Shiism had especial attention to this province and counted it as one of the important factors of its policies. Safavid kings especially Shah Abbas I repeatedly was going to pilgrimage of ImamReza's tomb and undoubtedly he seeks by this means legitimacy and acceptance of the masses.