Explaining the Geographical and Cultural Contexts and Components of the Formation and Expansion of Morshidiyya Monasteries in Kureh Shapur

After being established by Sheikh Abu Ishagh Kazeruni in the second half of the fourth century AH, the Morshidiyya sect was consistently guided by its main headquarters in Kazerun through creating an extensive monastic network. The present article, using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on the main sources, seeks to answer the question: What role did geographical and cultural contexts play in the formation and expansion of Morshidiyya monasteries? By studying the natural and cultural geography of Kureh Shapur, it is concluded that the presence of great Sufis in Shiraz such as Abu Abdollah ‌Mohammad ibn Khafif and also the passage of the Shiraz trade route to the sea through the Kazerun region, provided the basis for cultural and religious exchanges between Shiraz and Kazerun. At that time, Kazerun from Kureh Shapur and its surrounding areas was one of the important centers of Zoroastrianism. This caused Sheikh Abu Ishagh to settle there and establish his monasteries in Kureh Shapur to spread Islam. The attraction of the Morshidiyya monastery, which paved the way for its expansion in Kureh Shapur, was due to several factors. In addition to the spiritual virtues of Abu Ishagh Kazeruni, the provision of social services to the needy and travelers and the support of merchants and traders for the monasteries of Morshidiyya are among these factors.