The Ups and Downs of the Political Presence of NaqshbandÊ Sheikhs in the Sheib§nÊds' Period

Following the decline of the Mongol dynasty in Transoxiana, the relationship between the rulers and the Såfi sheikhs entered a new phase, so that during the TimårÊds period, NaqshbandÊ Såfis enjoyed considerable influence in the society, the b§z§§r and the court as well.  Although NaqshbandÊyya suffered a severe blow with the rise of Mohammad Kh§n Sheib§nÊ and the fall of the TimårÊds, especially in Samarqand, they not only remained in the Transoxiana politics, but also were able to play an important role in the power equations during this period, while establishing a continuous and extensive relations with the court of the Sheib§nÊds. The question of present study is why this relationship continued. According to the findings, both the emergence of the SafavÊd ShÊÊte rule in Ir§n and the initial coalation of the TimårÊds' remnants with it necessitated the relations of the Sheib§nÊds with the SunnÊ NaqshbandÊ sheikhs. Moreover, conflicts within the NaqshbandÊ houses as well as their local and economic interests, led sheikhs to establish greater contacts with the Sheib§nÊds. The internal struggles of the Abu al-Khairkhan’s descendants for power, especially after the death of 'Ubaidullah Khan, was effective in the entry of influential NaqshbandÊ sheikhs into politics.