Shiism With Popular Narratives in Safavid Iran

Shah Ismail, who founded the Safavid State, had a khutba read in the name of the Twelve Imams and declared Shiism as the official sect. Ismail accomplished what his predecessors failed to do: he united Iran politically and accepted Shiism as the official sect. The Safavids took steps by the official sect and started to spend all their power and authority in this direction. The Safavids started to apply various methods such as vilifying their rivals, putting psychological pressure on them or eliminating them completely and strengthened their state authority. With the official declaration of Shiism, the practice of religious worship centred on Ahl-e Beyt and the production of various works that would ensure the spread of Shiism was ensured. These activities were carried out under the spiritual patronage of the Shahs. The protection of Shiism in Iran against the attempts of the Ottomans and Uzbeks to establish dominance shaped the perceptions of religiosity of the Safavid shahs. It can be said that works in the epic genre, which have been read among the people since the reign of Shah Ismail, have an important place in the spread of Shiism. This study will focus on the contribution of the epics Hamze-nama and Abu-Moslem-nama to Shiism.