Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Doctorate in Iranian Islamic History of Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Iranian Studies Foundation, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Clergymen were a powerful class in Qajar Iran, playing a decisive role in the country's social and political life. Documents from this period show that clergymen were active in public, religious, and charitable affairs, playing a leading role among other social groups. Waqf, as one of the economic capitals in the Qajar period, led to the increase of clergymen's influence and credibility among different classes, and their active social role. However, the documents of waqfs related to this group in the Qajar period have been less studied.
This research examines the role of clergymen in Qajar Iran through the study of waqf deeds in the city of Barfoorsh. The findings of the research show that clergymen were active in public, religious, and charitable affairs in Qajar Iran, playing a leading role among other social groups. Waqf, as one of the economic capitals in the Qajar period, led to the increase of clergymen's influence and credibility among different classes. The most common types of waqfs donated by clergymen were land, house, shop, and garden. The most common uses of clergymen's waqfs in Barfoorsh were tazieh and mourning of Imam Hussein (AS), followed by charitable and public affairs and children.In addition to the findings mentioned above, the research also found that the establishment of waqfs by Barfoorsh clergymen increased significantly in the era of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar and the years after that. This was due to the registration, management, and preservation of waqfs in the framework of the new bureaucratic system and the increase in the income level of society compared to the early Qajar period.
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