The Status of the Shiites in the Socio-Political Structure of the Deccan in the 10th and 11th Centuries AH
Document Type : Original Article
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of History and Civilization of Islamic Nations, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Following the fall of the Bahmani dynasty, three successor states—namely the Nizam Shahis, Adil Shahis, and Qutb Shahis—emerged and declared Shiism as the official religion of their respective realms. The rulers of these governments provided extensive support to the Shiite population, which attracted many Shiites from regions such as Iraq and Iran to migrate to the Deccan. During this period, Shiites formed a distinct social group. The primary question of this study is: What was the position of the Shiites within the political and social structure of the Deccan during this period? The hypothesis underlying this research is that, given the formal adoption of Shiism by the ruling powers, Shiites—benefiting from the support of Shiite rulers—held a prominent position in the political and social structure of the Deccan. The findings of this study indicate that the Shiite community during this era largely consisted of immigrants from other regions, and socially they were classified among the Āfāqīs (foreigners or outsiders). The support of Shiite rulers during this time elevated their status within Deccan society. However, Shiite Āfāqīs were frequently in conflict with the local Dakkanis over control of power—conflicts which sometimes escalated into violent confrontations between the two groups.
Keywords
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Volume 5, Issue 9
April 1404Pages 100-125
- Receive Date: 13 January 2025
- Revise Date: 16 February 2025
- Accept Date: 17 February 2025