The Safavid Dynasty in the East (Afghanistan)
The Safavid Dynasty After Shah ‘Abbas
December 2, 2022Epilogue
December 2, 2022BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
The Safavid Dynasty in the East (Afghanistan)
The Safavids captured Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan in the year 947 AH. The Sunni Uzbeks, however, recaptured it. Then the Mongols of India captured it in the year 1021 AH and subsequently handed it over to the Safavids in the year 1038 AH. The Safavids were eventually able to occupy the entire Afghanistan and they appointed a Georgian governor to oversee its affairs. However, Amir Mir Uways, a Sunni, emerged to oppose the Safavids in the year 1120 AH. He expelled them from Kandahar and began liberating Afghan city after city. Sadly, he died in the year 1127 AH. When his son, Mir Mahmud, grew up he expelled the Safavids with the cooperation of the Sunni Uzbeks. His campaign against them saw him march onto Iran and crush the Safavid Dynasty, capturing their capital Isfahan. The Safavids were left with a small patch of land in the North of Iran which managed to escape destruction at the hands of Mir Mahmud, by a Russian alliance. The Safavids preferred to split what remained of their dynasty with the Russians than broker an alliance with Mir Mahmud. It should be noted how the Shia here too, at their weakest, preferred an alliance with the Christians over the Muslims.
Mir Mahmud fell ill and the Russians began capturing Safavid cities. Mir Mahmud retreated somewhat and then died leaving behind his uncle, Ashraf, as leader. The Safavid Dynasty finally fell with the emergence of Nadir Khan, though a Shia he had a propensity for moderation. He deposed the last members of the Safavid Dynasty and founded the Afsharid Dynasty the year 1148 AH.
During the era of Nadir Shah, the first efforts of closing the gap between the Sunnis and Shias were made, with cursing the Khalifas being banned. Although some progress was made, he was murdered in the year 1160 AH, the specifics of which is beyond our study.
The Afghan people were able to protect and keep to their Sunni creed. Today, the Shia in Afghanistan make up no more than 10% and are primarily of the Hazaras and some Persian Nationalists.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
The Safavid Dynasty in the East (Afghanistan)
The Safavids captured Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan in the year 947 AH. The Sunni Uzbeks, however, recaptured it. Then the Mongols of India captured it in the year 1021 AH and subsequently handed it over to the Safavids in the year 1038 AH. The Safavids were eventually able to occupy the entire Afghanistan and they appointed a Georgian governor to oversee its affairs. However, Amir Mir Uways, a Sunni, emerged to oppose the Safavids in the year 1120 AH. He expelled them from Kandahar and began liberating Afghan city after city. Sadly, he died in the year 1127 AH. When his son, Mir Mahmud, grew up he expelled the Safavids with the cooperation of the Sunni Uzbeks. His campaign against them saw him march onto Iran and crush the Safavid Dynasty, capturing their capital Isfahan. The Safavids were left with a small patch of land in the North of Iran which managed to escape destruction at the hands of Mir Mahmud, by a Russian alliance. The Safavids preferred to split what remained of their dynasty with the Russians than broker an alliance with Mir Mahmud. It should be noted how the Shia here too, at their weakest, preferred an alliance with the Christians over the Muslims.
Mir Mahmud fell ill and the Russians began capturing Safavid cities. Mir Mahmud retreated somewhat and then died leaving behind his uncle, Ashraf, as leader. The Safavid Dynasty finally fell with the emergence of Nadir Khan, though a Shia he had a propensity for moderation. He deposed the last members of the Safavid Dynasty and founded the Afsharid Dynasty the year 1148 AH.
During the era of Nadir Shah, the first efforts of closing the gap between the Sunnis and Shias were made, with cursing the Khalifas being banned. Although some progress was made, he was murdered in the year 1160 AH, the specifics of which is beyond our study.
The Afghan people were able to protect and keep to their Sunni creed. Today, the Shia in Afghanistan make up no more than 10% and are primarily of the Hazaras and some Persian Nationalists.