A Study on the Relationships between Motavakkel, the Abbasid Caliph, and the Alavis

Religious policy of the Abbasid caliph Motavakkell during his reign, as an Abbasid caliph, had his own authority. Abbasid era put an end to Motazele. Nevertheless, Motazele movement was strengthened due to fanatic support of previous caliphs. Mo‘tavakkel due to his intelligence avoided the challenge in the way of previous caliphs, however Turks became more powerful and their increasing power posed achallenge. They actually gained power during the period of Mo‘tasam government. Turks themselves played an important role in Motasam’s saccession to the throne. However Motavakke managed to control their power and lost his life doing so. In an atmosphere like this, his murderers to justify his assassination, started publicizing against him and called Motavakkel Nasebi. Nevertheless, his behaviuor with Alavis was not so bitter and harsh to prove the idea of him being Nasebi. The writer, while surveying different aspects of Motavakkel’s behaviuor and his religious policy, tries to present a better and real picture of Motavakkel.