the Production of Shia Jurisprudence Texts in the First Part of Safavid Period, Case Study: Jamal-al-Insha

At the beginning of Safavid period and the conversion of Iran to Shia, there was a need for texts explaining the jurisprudence regulations of this religion in different fields to all members of society. The field of Shurūt and Vasāyiq that specifies the instructions of preparing and writing legal documents is one of the fields. Its great importance along with the lack of resources in this regard, made ‘Abdulḥai -ibn- ‘Abdulvahhāb Hosseini, Herat’s judge (Qāżī) in the reign of Shah Ismail I and Shah Tahmasb I and one of the cultural elites in last Timurid era, write a handbook based on Shia jurisprudence to guide the staff in religious registries. This handbook entitled Jamāl al-Inshā (Beauty of Inshā) containing plenty of legal documents and historical letters can also be considered as an example of sources called Munsha’āt (collection of letters). Despite its importance, the book has not been yet investigated on. If this text is compared with its contemporary and similar works and the historical context in the time of its compilation is regarded, then it will be clear that the author’s purpose in writing the book, has been strengthening Shia resources in jurisprudence. Furthermore, this book is so important in studying historical events in Herat in sixteenth century such as the results of repeated attacks by uzbeks to this area and also the conflicts among Safavid authorities in Khorasan.