The Role and Function of Imamzadehs in the Development of Shiites in Pre-Safavid Iran: The shrines of Shiraz and Yazd

The children and grandchildren of Shiite Imams are called “Imamzadeh.” They immigrated to Iran in order to find security and social status, and over time, their number increased. The Iranians eagerly sheltered them because of their relation to the prophet. The social status of the Imamzadehs was not only due to their relation to the prophet though; friendship with the prophet’s family is the Quran’s order. Their scientific and cultural activities in Iran and holding official positions such as Sheikh al-Islam, Niqabat, Minister, administration of Dar al-Siyadeh, and custodian of the graves of mystics added to their social stature. After Imamzadehs’ death or murder, the Iranians buried them and built tombs on their graves and visited their graves. Thus, Iranians expressed their love and affection to the prophet’s family by constructing these sepulchers. These shrines had various social, scientific, cultural, and economic functions on the historical idea of Shiism in pre-Safavid Iran. Imamzadehs are considered as a factor in spreading the Islamic faith and friendship between the prophet’s family and Shiites. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate Imamzadehs’ role in the historical development of Shiism in Iran in pre-Safavid period based on architectural works and local histories. The hypothesis of the paper is that Imamzadehs have played an important role in the construction and enrichment of Shiite culture in Shiraz and Yazd before the Safavid era.