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Shaikh Safi al-Din

Type Figure Region Persia Time 1252–1334 Also known as Safi al-Din Ardabili、Founder of the Safavi order

Shaikh Safi al-Din (1252–1334) was a Sufi shaikh of Persian Azerbaijan and founder of the Safavi order, who established a lodge at Ardabil blending S…

Timeline

  1. 1301–1320Ardabil · ArdabilShaikh Safi al-Din established a lodge at Ardabil and founded the Safavi order, inheriting West Asian Sufi traditions while absorbing local religious customs. Known for strict rules and communal practice, the order gradually attracted Turkic tribes and Persian followers, becoming an important religious and social force in northwestern Iran.
  2. 1331–1334Ardabil · ArdabilBy 1330 Shaikh Safi al-Din had entered his later years, continuing to preach at Ardabil and expand the order's influence. Construction of the mausoleum complex began during his lifetime; after his death in 1334 he was buried at Ardabil, and his tomb later developed into the Safavid dynasty's most important pilgrimage site and political symbol.

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