A Look at Shi'ism and Sunnism in Isfahan: With a focus on the Immigration of ibn Hilāl Thaqafi, Author of al-Ghārāt and al-Ma'rifah

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Abstract

Discussions of Shi'ism and Sunnism in Isfahan have attracted a lot of attention and were the topic of high interest. However, the Sunnism of Isfahan's seminary—especially radical Sunnism—has been emphasized in the related sources. Historical reports, which have considered this issue and have been cited mostly, referred to the immigration of ibn Hilāl Thaqafi, the author of a well-known book, al-Ghārāt, who moved from Kufa to Isfahan to change the attitudes and opinions of its people. He taught a book entitled al-Ma'rifah ('the knowledge')—authored by himself—to the people of Isfahan where he remained until the end of his life. This book was about the virtues of Ahl al-Bayt and the vices and atrocities of their enemies.
The present paper contemplated the above-mentioned issue and shows that what was prevalent in Kufa was different from the reality of political and religious thought of Isfahan. The religious atmosphere prevailing in the era of Thaqafi's life in Isfahan—the late third and early fourth century AH—had a tendency to Shi'ism and this was contrary to the notion that radical Sunnism had been popular there.

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