Hasan Allahyari

The legitimacy of the Safavid government is one of the key issues in the political and religious history of Iran, justified and reinforced in various ways. The Safavids, emphasizing religious, historical, and ideological concepts, sought to legitimize their wars against the Uzbeks, their religious rivals. One of their most important tools was the use of Islamic teachings, such as Quranic verses and Hadiths, framed within concepts like “holy war” and “defense of Shiism.” Focusing on this verse-centered approach, this study investigates how Safavid historians employed Qur’anic verses to narrate Shah Ismail’s wars with the Uzbeks. It further explores the impact of this method on the legitimacy of the Safavid government and the formation of their Shiite identity. Employing a descriptive and analytical approach, this study examines the qualitative content of Safavid historical texts. The findings indicate that Safavid historians, by incorporating Quranic verses, constructed narratives that portrayed Shah Ismail as a divine leader and depicted the Uzbeks as adversaries of religion and opponents of divine order. This approach not only bolstered the legitimacy of the Safavid government but also played a crucial role in reinforcing Shiite identity and fostering a politico-religious discourse.