<![CDATA[This study aims to reveal the sectarian identity of the Jalayirid dynasty (1340–1431), which ruled for approximately a century in Baghdad-centered Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, and the surrounding regions. Frequently repeated claims in modern literature that the Jalayirids were, or may have been, Shi‘a—based on symbolic and indirect elements—have led to reductionist readings and hindered a proper understanding of the dynasty’s actual sectarian orientation. It has been claimed, or interpreted, that they belonged to the Shi‘a sect on the basis of data such as the names adopted by the members of the dynasty, their burial sites, and their interest in the cities of Karbala and Najaf. The dynasty has also been associated with Shi‘ism through a few dubious and uncertain coins alleged to belong to Jalayirid rulers. The study first examines the claims/interpretations that the dynasty was Shi‘a and the ways in which these claims and interpretations have been substantiated. Subsequently, these claims and interpretations are subjected to a methodological inquiry in the light of madrasa curricula, religious appointments, the dynasty’s close relations with Sunni Sufi orders, records of the religious bureaucracy, waqf allocations, travelogues, and contemporary historical sources. The findings of the study demonstrate that the claims regarding Shi‘ism in relation to the Jalayirid dynasty are mostly based on biased interpretations, limited indicators, and anachronistic readings, while revealing that the sectarian identity of the dynasty possessed a Sunni character. At the same time, the policies of balance and tolerance pursued by the rulers in centers such as Najaf and Karbala, where the Shi‘a population was dense, indicate that the Jalayirids adopted a pragmatic politics prioritizing political stability. The study reconstructs the sectarian affiliation of the Jalayirid dynasty on the basis of direct sources.]]>
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