Collaboration and Professionalism during a Time of Crisis: A Study of a Decree dated Ṣafar 1332/ January 1914 from Āstāne-ye Quds-e Rażavī

Some years after the Constitutional Revolution and the passing of new laws (such as the law of Religious Endowments), the endowments of the Shrine of ImāmʻAlī al-Reża known as Āstāne-ye Quds-e Rażavī were given to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments (Vezārat-e Maʻāref va Owqāf). Nāṣerol-Molk was still the vice-regent (Nāʼebol-Salṭane) of Aḥmad Shāh when the Russians on 11 Rabīʻ II 1330 /30 March 1912 attacked the Shrine. It is often said that during this period the administration of the country was in a state of turmoil, due to political events. The present article studies a decree issued on Ṣafar 1332/January 1914 by the Archives Section of the Āstāne-ye Quds-e Rażavī. This decree demonstrates that even after the Russian bombardment the Archives Section was working and well-managed. Despite the fact that the Shrine was on the one hand under the supervision of the Shah and on the other, due to the new law, under the supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, the regular running of this section remained in the hands of Rażavī, Ḥoseynī, Ṭabātabāʼī and Mūsavī Sayyeds. Even in the worst of conditions, in response to demands of the central Tehran administration, these Sayyeds were able to collaborate to prepare professional documents.