History of Sufism in the Mongol Period in Iran

Mongols’invasionof Iran resulted in the spread of insecurity, destruction of civilizational infrastructures, and extreme governmental and administrative flaws as inevitable outcomes of the fall of the caliphate. During this historical period, Sufism,on the one hand, managed to turn into a religious authority for the public to escape the existing social pressures. On the other hand, it became a shelter for the cultural élite in remote places. Some of the factors that persuaded the public to turn to Sufism included the simple life of its representatives, their abiding by and resorting to religious laws and promoting and following them, and complying with government regulations. This trend was welcomed by people and some rulers for two reasons: Sufism granted legitimacy to the structure of dominant power in society and decreased people’s suffering from social calamities. The interest of local rulers and authorities in Sufism played a role in the construction and financial support of Khanqahs (a building for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood). The rise of this order, alongside its positive spiritual effects, caused some harms as well. It resulted in the escalation of determinism more than ever before. Moreover, the dissemination of Sufism among the public led to its banality, frailty, and decline during later centuries. Following a historical method, this paper investigates the process of spread of Sufism in Iran.