Examining the Phenomenon of Banditry in the Eighth Century (H), with an Emphasis on the Safwat al Safa

Although bandit crimes and activities have always been in the shadow of vagueness In fact, their activities have largely affected the civil and economical sections, the authority of the rulers and the safety of the society needing serious investigation. Moreover, during the reign of the Mongols, particularly in the late period of Ilkhanids, one witnesses a growing number of bandit groups and in fact banditry was very common in Iran of that time. On the other hand, There is scarcity of attention about the issue of banditry in the available historiographical texts of the middle Iran as well as Islamic history. There for, other literary and mystical sources need to be consulted to gain more information about bandits and their related social issues. In this regard, the Safwat al Safa biography, as one of the most important publications in the world of Sufism in the late Period of Ilkhanids reign, Presents information about the status and the internal organization of bandits largely neglected by the researchers.
This paper investigates several statements mentioned in Safwat al Safā about banditry phenomenon and tries to analyze those statements to know more about the bandits’ life quality and activities.