Motaleat-e-Taghribi Mazaheb-e-Eslami (Proximity Studies of Islamic Denominations) (Foroughe Vahdat)

Motaleat-e-Taghribi Mazaheb-e-Eslami (Proximity Studies of Islamic Denominations) (Foroughe Vahdat)

Nader Shah Afshar’s Factors, Motivations and Objectives for the Policy of Islamic Unity

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Gasem Fattahi 1
Mahdi Jamalifar, 2
Abdullah Farrahi, 2
Uthman Yousefi 2
1 Ph.D. Candidate, Islamic History Studies, Faculty of Quran and Hadith Studies, International University of Islamic Denominations, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic History, Faculty of Quran and Hadith Studies, Sanandaj Branch, International University of Islamic Denominations, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/mtmi.2025.516635.1853
Abstract
Understanding the role and function of rulers’ religious policies and their outcomes opens up new horizons in historical research that adopts social and cultural perspectives. Although the Afsharid era was a brief and transitory period in Iran’s history, it is considered a notable epoch due to the unprecedented religious endeavors and measures undertaken by Nader Shah. Despite the considerable research on various aspects of Nader Shah’s reign, what has remained unaddressed—or at least not examined in an independent and scholarly manner—is the study and analysis of the background, reasons, aims, and motivations behind his religious policy and the concept of Islamic unity.

Using a descriptive-analytical approach and drawing on library and documentary sources, this study investigates the various facets of Nader’s religious policy. The findings indicate that, by proposing and implementing the theory of Islamic unity, Nader Shah sought both to gain legitimacy and to generate and regenerate public consent for himself across the Islamic world. Politically motivated, he applied the principle of Islamic unity in his dealings with Sunnis within Iran and in his relations with other Muslim states, particularly the Ottoman Empire—an important step toward Islamic solidarity. However, in the end, due to the specific historical circumstances of the period and especially the lack of support from Ottoman scholars, this policy did not succeed.
Keywords
Nader Shah Afshar
Religious Policy
Islamic Unity
Ottoman
Shia
Sunni
Motaleat-e-Taghribi Mazaheb-e-Eslami (Proximity Studies of Islamic Denominations) (Foroughe Vahdat)

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 July 2025