Political-Religious Confrontation of the Ottoman State with the Safavids(907-1003 AH/1501-1594 AD)

In the early 10th/16th century, with the formation of the Shiite-Safavid government, political equations in Western Asia collapsed. The religious difference between the Safavids and the Ottomans, dissatisfaction of the Ottoman government's with the formation of a strong government in the east of its territory, the religious propaganda of the Safavids in the Ottoman territory, the Ottoman claims to the dominance of the Islamic world, and the political disagreements between the two states, inevitably led to a confrontation between the Ottomans and the Safavids. During the years 907-1003 AH / 1501-1594, the policy of the Ottoman government against the Safavids was supporting of the Sufi orders who were in line with the Ottomans and a direct military confrontation with the Safavids. The Ottoman Sultans and the Ulamas noticed the danger that threatened their place by safavids and confronted this threat. The Ottoman state during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II, wrote several letters to the Shah Ismail, requesting the suspension of religious propaganda in the Ottoman territory, and then supporting the Sufi orders who were not in line with the Safavids. At the time of Sultan Salim I, along with the support of the Sufi orders who were in line with the Ottomans, and using the Ottoman Ulamas’ Fatwas, direct military confrontation with the Safavids was also on the agenda. Thus, Sultan Selim managed to eliminate the crisis that threatened his kingdom. Sultan Salim's policy against the Safavids continued during his successors.