The Process and Factors in the Safavid's Conversion from Sufism to Shiism

One of the most significant eras throughout the history of Iran is that of the Safavids during which some Qizilbash Sufis of this land founded a government with no role for the Shiite clergymen in the beginning. However, these clergymen, gradually achieving some key positions inside the government, made Shiism as the official religion of the state. The process of formalizing Shiism is the most important feature of the Safavid state, dating over 200 years, from Shah Ismail I (907-930 AH) to Shah Sultan Husein (1105-1135 AH), the last king of this dynasty. Through documental studies, this article seeks to examine some of the social-political and intellectual causes of such an event.