An Investigation of the Religious Situation of Kermanin the Qara-Khitai Period (1223-1305 AD)

The province of Kerman was conquered by the Baraq Hajib and from the early third decade of the seventh century AH and was under the control of this ruler and his successors until the early eighth century. The tact of Baraq Hajib and some of its successors not only maintained Kerman's political stability, but also influenced other social, cultural, and religious spheres for more than eight decades. The present study is an analytical method using library resources to analyze the religious approach of the Qara-Khitai rulers in the first step and to explain the religious status of Kerman at the same time as their second step. Therefore, the main question of this article is: What was the religious approach of Kerman Qara-Khitai rulers and what was the position of different religions in Kerman at the same time as their rule? The findings of the study indicate that the Kerman Qara-Khitai rulers, although having non-Iranian and non-Muslim (Buddhist) origins, came to Kerman around 619-620 AH (1222-1223 AD) and shrewdly established a new approach to this new territory. Various political and especially religious ones followed. This made their rule more sustainable within Iranian-Islamic culture.