The of the safavids in the administration and reconstruction of holy shrines in lraq and lran from (1501-1736ad)

Abstract

The period of Safavid rule witnessed radical transformations in the Islamic world, especially with regard to strengthening the Shiite identity, as they realized the importance of the holy shrines in Iraq and Iran, not only from a religious perspective, but also as part of their policy to consolidate legitimacy and expand their influence, as they sought full state support for the reconstruction of these sites, and allocated huge sums from the royal treasury and Islamic endowments for this purpose, as their efforts focused on developing the infrastructure, improving the comforts for visitors, in addition to the architectural and decorative aspects that are still considered among the most important features of that era.

After God facilitated for me to complete this research, it became clear to me that the Safavids had a significant and distinctive role in the management and construction of the holy shrines in Iraq and Iran. The purpose of their interest in the shrines was to establish their legitimacy in ruling, especially since they were in a constant conflict with the Ottoman Empire. They also built, expanded and renovated shrines in order to accommodate the largest number of visitors on the one hand, and to expose them to destruction due to wars and floods on the other hand. They also solved the intractable water problems in the shrines by digging a number of rivers and canals, the goal behind which was to deliver water to the shrines and the surrounding areas. Among the most important of these rivers is the river that runs from Hillah to Kufa. During the second half of the Safavid era, they carried out many stages of construction and expansion of the shrines, whether in Iraq or Iran, in line with the increase in population. They also established endowments in Iraq and Iran, which played an important role in providing the necessary funds for the expansion and renovation of the holy shrines.