A Critical Perspective on the Historical Geography of the Caucasus in the Works of Haji Mirza Zain al-Abedin Shirvani

Document Type : Research/Original/Reqular Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD in Department of History of Islamic Iran, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

10.22059/jhic.2025.394289.654575

Abstract

Haji Mirza Zain al-Abedin Shirvani (1194-1253 AH/ 1780-1837 AD) was a Sufi master of the Ni'matullahi order during the Qajar period. He spent nearly four decades traveling through various Islamic lands in pursuit of spiritual truth and self-knowledge. He documented his observations in three major travelogues titled Rīyāḍ al-Sīyāḥa, Ḥadāʼiq al-Sīyāḥa, and Bustān al-Sīyāḥa. In his works, Shirvani viewed geography as going beyond mere topography, considering it a medium for spiritual wayfaring, discovering truth, and attaining self-knowledge. In his view, geography was not merely a description of place, but an instrument for representing diverse human cultures, mystical paths, and beliefs. He used it to narrate his spiritual journey, convey mystical concepts, and explore the relationship between humanity and the universe. The Caucasus was among the regions that attracted Shirvani’s attention, including its natural geography, human and ethnic diversity, and specific areas such as Dagestan, Circassia, Talesh, Arran, Qarabagh, Armenia, Georgia, and their dependencies. The Caucasus, which had been separated from Iran by the Russians, became the focus of Shirvani's travel during a critical historical period, lending particular significance to his accounts of the region. The present study aims to revisit and critique the representation of the historical geography of the Caucasus in these works. Using a critical approach and historical criticism, the geographical and historical data in Shirvani’s travelogues were examined and compared with earlier sources. Findings reveal that although his reports on the Caucasus largely rely on earlier Islamic historians and geographers and offer little innovative detail, his firsthand observations, especially regarding demographic composition, linguistic diversity, religions, and cultural characteristics of certain Caucasian cities, are valuable and unique. The novelty of this article lies in its critical emphasis on the role of Shirvani’s travelogues in both continuing and reimagining the Islamic tradition of historical geography concerning the Caucasus.

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References

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Iranian Journal for the History of Islamic Civilization
Volume 58, Issue 2
(Autumn & Winter 2025 / 2026)
March 2026
Pages 64-89

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 18 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 16 November 2025

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