Hamidreza Peighambari

The Persian Gulf is a waterway that since ancient times has played a role in many historical events. This waterway has been a bridge for the exchange of culture, religion and trade. After spread of Islam in the Persian Gulf region, this region became a place of many religious conflicts. In this thesis, we will examine the religions and sects that appeared in the Persian Gulf region. Most of the materials used in this thesis have been collected from historical and geographical sources of the early Islamic centuries, which show the spread of various religions and religions in the region. Therefore, the main question of this thesis is what is the reason for the presence of religions in the Persian Gulf region in the early Islamic centuries? This historical research has been done by descriptive-analytical method and library study method. The spatial distribution of religions and its geographical background shows the importance of environment in attracting religions and sects. In such a way that, except for the Zoroastrians who lived in the northern coasts and islands of the Persian Gulf and the Jews and Christians who were attracted to the trade of the region, most of the Muslims were members of sects that were rejected by the central state. Among these sects, we can especially mention Qarāmiṭa and Ibāḍiyya. It seems that the islands and shores of the Persian Gulf, due to their remoteness or difficult access from the center of the Caliphate, as well as the suitable conditions for defense, have been noticed many followers of different religions.