Imami Shiism in Transoxania under the Samanids

In spite of the fact that the Shiism, due to the different look at the governance of the Islamic society, was always faced with the opposition from the caliphate system, and some of the adherents of that denomination were under persecution, the Shiite thought spread out in numerous parts of the Islamic territory – including Transoxania – during the early Islamic centuries. While exploring the backgrounds and factors, the present article investigates why and how the Shiism infiltrated Transoxania under the Samanids. This article shows that the geographical-cultural situation of Transoxania as well as the religious toleration of Samanids prepared the ground for attraction of Imami Shiites during the 3rd century; and in the early 4th century, Transoxania became one of the most important centers of the Shiite culture. From the mid-4th century, as a result of Al Buya dynasty’s dominance over Baghdad as well as the religious conflicts between Karamya and Maturidis on the one hand and the Shiites on the other hand, that center lost its prosperity and the Shiites migrated to other areas.