The Similarity of Sufism and Shiism and Its social and Political Functions in Mazandaran (760-795 AH)

The similarity of Sufism with Shiism means a process by which Sufism created a tight relationship with Shiism and influenced on social culture of Iranian society. This process was formed, contemporary with the invasion of the Mongols, by the mental efforts of the grandees of Shiites and Sufis. Impressibility of both schools from Muhyi al-Din-Arabi, along with belief in the guardianship and leadership (imamate) of Imam Ali (pbuh) and belief in the salvation of Mahdaviyat doctrine, had a great role in this process. This similarity gradually by carrying on in the thoughts of Shi’a scholars such as Sayyed Haydar Amoli and various groups like Shaykhieh of Kabruyeh, and Shaykhieh of Jouruyeh prepared for social and political turnabouts. Following the mental developments, the political and social society of Iran profoundly changed and spread in different regions of Iran; especially in Mazandaran under the leadership of Mir Ghavam-eddin Mar’ashi, and as its result, liberation movements were formed against the political sovereignty. In this paper, due to the importance of the history of intellectual developments, by using the historical resources of medieval centuries in Iran and applying the descriptive and analytical method, we will seek to discover the effects of the assimilation of Sufism with Shiism and its role in the social and political developments of Mazandaran