This study aims to explain how Zoroastrian Priesthood, encountering with the critical situation of post-Arab conquest era, devised ways to guarantee the survival of its community and prevent conversion. It relied mainly upon the historical documents and textual material- especially Zoroastrian texts. These texts largely have a religious nature and, have been generally produced during the 3th/9th and 4th/10th Centuries. These are solutions which based mainly on the old traditions and could be classified under four categories: a) those which addressed economic pressure and punishments, b) devises for economic encouragements, c) those of self isolation, and d) those which enjoy an apocalyptic nature, including salvation literature. But, these devises, whatever their importance, apparently were not effective enough to prevent the increasing process of Zoroastrians’ conversion to Islam. They even in some occasions resulted reversely and caused more pressure on Zoroastrians (especially when Islam’s superiority in Iran was completed and Zoroastrians changed into a vulnerable minority). Therefore, it increased the rate of conversion of Zoroastrians to Islam. Among these solutions, just apocalyptic and salvation literature- that seems to be a result of hard conditions which Zoroastrians endured as a minority in Islamic society- were useful enough to keep the rest of Zoroastrians hopeful, and encouraged them to hold their Zoroastrian religion.
Zarrinkoob, R., & Yazdani Rad, A. (2011). Devises of Zoroastrian Priests to Prevent Zoroastrians’ Conversion to Islam. Historical Studies, 2(1), 99-126.
MLA
Ruzbeh Zarrinkoob; Ali Yazdani Rad. "Devises of Zoroastrian Priests to Prevent Zoroastrians’ Conversion to Islam". Historical Studies, 2, 1, 2011, 99-126.
HARVARD
Zarrinkoob, R., Yazdani Rad, A. (2011). 'Devises of Zoroastrian Priests to Prevent Zoroastrians’ Conversion to Islam', Historical Studies, 2(1), pp. 99-126.
VANCOUVER
Zarrinkoob, R., Yazdani Rad, A. Devises of Zoroastrian Priests to Prevent Zoroastrians’ Conversion to Islam. Historical Studies, 2011; 2(1): 99-126.
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