An Episode in the ‘Amili Migration to Safavid Iran

Husayn b. ‘Abd al-Samad al-‘Amili's Travel Account

Bibliographic Data

ID9979005
AuthorsDevin J Stewart (0000-0002-1138-4834, corresponding author)
Year2006
Volume39
Issue4
Pages481-508
Publication date2006-11-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueIranian Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-0862 • E-ISSN: 1475-4819
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1080/00210860601005070
OpenAlexW2038927338
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited7

After emigrating from Ottoman territory to Safavid Iran in the mid-sixteenth century, the Shiite scholar Husayn b. ‘Abd al-Samad al-‘Amili wrote an eloquent letter-cum-travel account describing his experiences to his teacher Zayn al-Din al-‘Amili who had remained in Jabal ‘Amil. A manuscript of this fascinating document has now come to light and been edited twice, in 2001 and 2003. An analysis of the undated letter shows that it was written in 961/1554 and describes a journey that occurred earlier that same year. Husayn's statements do not spell out the exact cause of his flight from Ottoman territory but suggest that he was wary of being denounced to the authorities and felt that his academic career was severely limited there. He evidently supported Safavid legitimacy wholeheartedly, though he harbored misgivings about the moral environment in Iran and had sharp criticisms for Persian religious officials

Ancient history · Archaeology · Islam · Legitimacy · Political science · Politics · Spell · Theology · Classics · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History · Islamic Studies and History · Law · Philosophy · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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