Sufi Monastery Construction in Iran and the Indian Subcontinent: Patronage and Policies in the 13th-15th Centuries

Document Type : Research/Original/Reqular Article

Author

Ph.D. Graduate in Post-Islamic Iranian History, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Lorestan, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22059/jhic.2024.379302.654496

Abstract

This study examines the construction of Sufi monastery (khānaqāh) associated with the Cheshtiyyeh, Kazerouniyyeh, Sohravardiyyeh, and Kobraviyyeh orders in Iran and the Indian subcontinent from the 13th to the 15th centuries. khānaqāhs were central to Sufi life, serving as residences, gathering places, and centers of spiritual practice. This research investigates the patronage behind their construction, analyzing the roles of Sufis themselves, sultans, courtiers, and merchants. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach based on library research, the study reveals that monastery construction across these orders lacked a unified policy or standardized practice. Royal and courtly patronage was driven by diverse motives, ranging from seeking the support of these influential orders to attempting to control their social impact. Merchants' involvement reflected similar pragmatism, mirroring the evolving nature and social standing of Sufism in Iran and the Indian subcontinent during this period.

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Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization
Volume 57, Issue 1
September 2024
Pages 249-274

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History

  • Receive Date: 12 July 2024
  • Revise Date: 09 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 15 November 2024

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