Abolqasem Kashani's Historiographical Vision Based on His Beliefs

Abolqasem Kashani, the Shi’i historian of Ilkhanid era, due to the influence of new situation that appeared after Abbasid Caliphate’s fall and the rise of Ilkhanids, offers a new Historiographical perspective. He tries to avoid prejudice and by accuracy and tolerance, studies history and intends to strengthen the social and political position of the Shi’is; hence he tries to present a logical defense of the Shi’is. The present essay studies the historiographical vision of Kashani in two inter-related sections: the first section will study the position of Shi’is in history and the truth of their claim from Kashani’s standpoint. The second section deals with the pathology of Islamic civilization from his view point. In the essay we continue by examining the causes for the sectarianism in Islam and how Kashani defends the Shi’i truth taking advantage of the new atmosphere of the Ilkhanids.