Journal of Documentary and Archival Studies

Abstract Such events as the constitutional revolution and the World War I in the early 20^th century imposed socio-political crises on the socio-political atmosphere of Qajar government. The most obvious consequence of the issues was more insecurity on the roads of Iran. The situation made it problematic for Iranian and foreigners who traveled through the roads and transported their goods. Moreover, the insecurity of Qaenat and Sistan, where colonial countries especially Britain had special attention to since the 19^th century, made it more significant. Britain tried to dominate the eastern Iran due to its significant goals and interests in India. This way, it would have defended its precious colony against Russia, though faced new challenges as the consequence of the insecurity and banditry on the roads of the two regions. Qaenat and Sistan were especially important to the foreign forces’ decisions in this period as the cities were located on the most significant commercial roads of the southeast Iran. Focusing on the library resources and taking a descriptive-analytical method, this study tried to explore the insecurities and banditries on the exchanging roads between the regions and Britain’s reactions to them. The results showed that banditry had been always a threat to the Iranian and foreign caravans, causing major damages to the local people and foreigners. On the contrary, British army defended their nationals against attackers and bandits to secure the regions, though they had encouraged sometimes bandits to achieve their own goals. The study concludes that Britain had conflicting behaviors regarding the security in Qaenat and Sistan regions. That is, sometimes they suppressed bandits and in occasions supported them to achieve their desirable goals.

Abstract The credibility of a document depends on its seal. The issue can be seen sealed by people’s names in many documents such as the documents of Astan Quds Razavi administrative sections. All over history, the seal stamps have had artistic features and showed various religious, social, cultural, and political aspects of their holders. Women as part of the society had stamps and their stamps had special features based on their social position. Since signature was replaced seals in Pahlavi period, women and men who have not been literate continued to use their own seals, and this issue has continued until now. This study tried to explore the form and content of women’s seals, identify their features, and compare them with men's seals, considering their social status. It also tried to examine the seals of working women with those of other women considering the kind of document. The results showed that until the Qajar period, the seals of middle and lower-class women were less common because of their religious limitations in being present in all activities of society. Over the period, their seals can be found to be usually on behalf of a lawyer, but court women in all period have always had one or some seals, which are mentioned in some documents. During the Qajar era, when seal become popular among various groups of the society, women's seals became valid and was considered as valid as men’s seals, though their seals differed to some extent in terms of the crown, shape, decorations, place, and type of document, and even the degree of crediting.

Abstract Introducing Mostafā Qoli Khān Farrāshbāshi as one of the officials of Dār al-Saltaneh of Isfahan and introducing and analyzing the content of some documents and manuscripts related to him.
The present study was conducted through historical analysis with a descriptive-analytical approach based on manuscript sources, archived documents, journals, and library sources.
This article tries to answer the question: Who was Mostafā Qoli Khān Farrāshbāshi? What was his social status in Dār al-Saltaneh of Isfahan, and how are the documents and manuscripts about him? Mostafā Qoli Khān was from the Noor family of Mazandaran. He played a significant role in implementing the construction projects of Zell-e Soltān. Most of the documents obtained from the political life of Mostafā Qoli Khān are financial documents and booklets. Mostafā Qoli Khān Farrāshbāshi has served in Zell-e Soltān's court for more than two decades. He was responsible for establishing order and security in Isfahan and other provinces under the rule of Zell-e Soltān. Also, he was the executive contractor and manager of construction projects in Isfahan. In his performance record, he has the construction of the Nāseri Garrison and the renovation and restoration of the Fathiyeh Garrison, Chāhār Howz, and Mashakh Square in Naqsh-e Jahān Square, along with the repair and restoration of Chehel Sotun palace, RakibKhāneh, Kaj Mansion, Haft Dast palace, Mokhles Caravanserai, Chāhār Howz Caravanserai, Takiyeh Dowlat, Imāmzādeh Ahmad, as well as gravel pavement of Chāhār Baqh Street. Also, he repairs on Sio Seh Pol, Khāju, and Mārnān bridges. Like some of the officials of the Isfahan court, he was the deputy governor of the provinces of Khānsār, Kamareh, Abarquh, Semirom, Najafābād, Dehāqān, Barzrud, Mobārakeh of Lenjān, KermānShāhān, and Iraq. Also, he served as steward and tax officer of Julāheh and Barzrud villages, some of which documents and manuscripts have survived. The most critical manuscript obtained from Mostafā Qoli Khān is the manuscript of Ketābcheh Makhārej-e Bannāii Sarbāzkhāneh va Sāyer-e ʽemārāt, which was prepared in 1885-1886 AD. According to this version, Mostafā Qoli Khān has done dozens of civil works in Isfahan, along with the construction of the magnificent building of Naseri Barracks.

Abstract Asadullah Khatoun endowed 400 manuscripts to Astan Quds Razavi in 1067 AH. This collection has been the biggest library endowed before the delivery of a collection of more than 700 manuscripts that Nader Shah Afshar in 1145 AH, that he had brought to Iran from the Indian War. This research was done about this library and its endower. That is, to see what information the list of manuscripts of Asadullah Khatoun entails. Another aim of the study was to see what information we can get from the manuscripts about the endower and the origin of his endowed library.  The name of the endower and his lineage, according to the manuscripts, is in these words “the waqef is Asadullah ibn Sheikh Mohammad Mu’min (known as bn Khatoun al-Mashhadi Ameli). Another thing that this study answers is that whether there is a kin relationship to Sheikh Mohammad Khatoun (1059 AH), the leader of the government of Abdullah Qutb Shah in South India and to see if it is possible that these endowed manuscripts belonged to his personal library. The results showed that the 400 copies that have been endowed to Astan Quds Razavi belong to Alami Fahami Sheikh Mohammad bin Khatoun, and the collection has been endowed the library of Astan Quds Razavi by his son. The person has been a leader and vicegerent of Heider Abad kingship for about 20 years of the 46-year period of Shia government of Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah. Mohammad Khatoun was a pupil of Sheikh Bahaei and Mir Mohammad Mo’men Estrabadi and has established a famous religious school in the south of India.

Abstract Among the reasons of historical fame of Gonabad is its long history in constructing qanats and endeavors to keep and exploit them for agriculture and horticulture in this desert region. Taking a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on the documents of Astan Quds Razavi, this study examined the taken measures for keeping the fruitfulness of a number of endowed qanats of Gonabad from Safavid to Qajar period. This study sought to answer the questions: How much did the trustees of Astan Quds Razavi pay attention to dredging as a significant act to maintain the endowed qanats of Gonabad? What measures and factors were required for and optimal dredging? The results showed that despite the ups and downs over the past centuries, Astan Quds Razavi as the trustee of a number of qanats of Gonabad had considered and done dredging the qanats to maintain the agriculture of the region and make the ground for providing the locals’ livelihoods. Moreover, by accepting the dredging operation of qanats as a specialization, the organization has considered providing financial capital, sufficient time, employing specialized manpower, and providing needed tools and equipment. However, some factors have been affecting the level of dredging, the way of performing, and the outcomes, including the political situation of the region at that time, the way of performing the conventional work structure for dredging qanats by skilled and experienced well diggers, the level of providing necessary expenses for wages and materials, and the quality and number of needed instruments and facilities.

Abstract Titles are of the main yet under-researched issues in Qajar era. This study aimed to investigate the titles in Astan Quds Razavi and their relationship with seals in the organization in the Qajar era. Discussing such issues as the history of titles in Iran and Astan Quds Razavi in Qajar era, this study explored the relationship between titles and family seals, personal seals, and jobs and the reasons and ways the titles were produced. This study tried to fill the gap regarding the titles and their relationships with the seals and their functions in administrative parts. The results showed that following the formation and proliferation of some titles in the Qajar era, various titles began to be used in the administrative organizations of Astan Quds Razavi. The survived titles can be categorized into hereditary and non-hereditary under family, personal, and job titles. Titles are issued by the king, custodian and governor of Khorasan and their holders were bestowed, given the requested title, the occupational and financial prestige. Seemingly, there has been a direct relationship between the seal and the titles in Qajar era. Many of the title holders added the title to their seals as a criterion.

Abstract This study aimed to explore the multilevel archive cataloging. Taking into account the archiving standards and principles, it also tried to present some methods and strategies for document cataloging at the level of series and sub-series. In this kind of cataloging, description may be done at various levels, including fonds, series, files, or items levels. For the purpose, such archival standards as General Informational Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)), Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), Manual of Archival Description (MAD), and Rules for Archival Description (RAD) were identified. At the next stage, the multilevel cataloging rules common among the standards were identified. Relying on the experiences the researchers at the National Archive of Iran Organization, the common rules were corresponded with the current status of Iran and its organizational rules. Then, some strategies for operationalizing the rules in describing various documents were introduced. Accordingly, some worksheets including the instructions were designed and presented to the Deputy for National Library and Archives of IR Iran. The organization was accepted the worksheets to be used for organizing and describing documents of the organization. This study showed that applying multilevel description methods makes the identification of the archival documents easier, especially in those centers with huge entry of documents. It also showed that the method can accelerate the speed of identifying and retrieving of documents. Moreover, multilevel method will help describing the files formed in the past in different organizations of Iran and even the existing documents of the National Library and Archive of Iran. So, the method can be used in other archive centers.

Abstract This study tried to explain reason underlying emergence and durability of Mashhad street stream (Upper and Lower Street streams) using its physical characteristics from the beginning of its construction to the end of Qajar period. This stream was constructed just after building the first street by Shah Abbas in Safavid period. The stream then was extended to the fertile lands outside the city. This historical descriptive research used historical documents and written sources. The results showed that the construction of a stream from Cheshmeh Gilas to Mashhad had been the unique choice of rulers for supplying drinking and agriculture water of the city since the end of the 9th century. Over the reign of Shah Abbas, the new river was combined with the new unique street of the city, and a comprehensive endowment deed was designed to prepare the mechanism for its continuous maintenance. Although later, the clarity and physical splendor of the river decreased due to the violation of the terms of the endowment, the street that protected the stream in the worse conditions, provided the ground for its revival when the things became stable.

Abstract Mashhad as the capital of Khorasan province in Qajar period held a high status in terms of economic and commercial issues, so that the city can be considered a big port in the northeast of Iran for goods import and export. Considering the great commercial capacity of Mashhad, some American trading houses and companies that were active in importing American products and exporting goods from Iran, settled in Mashhad. Focusing on new discovered documents, this descriptive-analytical study sought to see what American trading houses entered in Mashhad trade market in the late Qajar dynasty and which goods they traded in Mashhad. Taking into account the lack of resources and taking a detailed approach, the findings showed that most important American trading houses and companies active in Mashhad were Shargh Carpet Company, Tavshanchian Carpet Company, Gharehgazian Company, and Singer Corporation. Examining the commercial status of Mashhad, the companies imported various kinds of fabrics, sewing accessories, sewing machines and other kinds of machines into Mashhad, and exported such goods as carpets, dried fruit, opium, animals’ guts, wool, cotton, and tragacanth to America. Most of the exports were raw materials.

Abstract Ghavam Mohammad Shirazi was an administrator of religious and judicial affairs in the Safavid era. After several years writing, examining, and verifying the deeds, and in response to the needs of society and the demand of his relatives, he wrote a book called Resaleh Dastour (Shorout), meaning rule book (conditions). This work talks briefly about a special type of sejel (recorded manuscript) called “Oreza Neveshtan”, common among the judges and nayebs (procurators) of Shiraz. The concise work mentions nothing about the way of writing it. This study aimed to explore the writing of this special type of sejel on sharia decrees (deeds). This was done using a descriptive analytical method and relying on documents published in the form of books and articles and archival sources. In the meanwhile, Shirazi narrating style was validated. The results indicated that by “Oreza Neveshtan” they mean graphically using the words “Oreza… Alayya” (it was offered… to me) in the recorded manuscripts of the highest-rank Safavid officials in Isfahan and not the judges of Shiraz. This way of recording indicates the difference of authority of Sheikh al-Islam and Nayib al-Sadr from other Islamic jurists in Isfahan in the Safavid era.

Abstract This study aimed to explore the functioning of all types of archives (national archives, governmental and non-governmental organizational archives, television archives, and thematic archives) regarding the evaluation of resources that come under the umbrella term “film” (motion pictures). Movies are used, cited, and, categorized into at least two formats. This study was done using translating and commenting the third and fourth chapters of the Kula’s book entitled The archival appraisal of photographs: A RAMP study with guidelines. It was followed by summarizing and concluding based on the researcher’s experiences regarding archival documents and exploring the behavior of archival institutions of Iran. The findings of Kula and results of examining cases in Iran show that the mission, goals, tasks, and type of archives (national, organizational, and thematic) directly impact on making provision policies as well as identifying, and determining, and applying the components and criteria of evaluating audio-visual documents (for long-term storage or erasing).

Abstract This research tried to investigate the initiatives and activities of Rahim Khan Chalabianlou, one of the Khans and heads of tribes in Azerbaijan, in misleading the goals of the constitutional revolution and constitutionalists in Azerbaijan area. Moreover, the study delt with the important issue of the role of Russians in fueling the movements. The research hypothesis is that Russians influenced Rahim Khan’s initiatives and movements to mislead the constitutional revolution and to interference in Azerbaijan region. They sometimes overtly showed their cooperation and sometimes they covertly cooperated. Rahim Khan's initiatives like suppressing the revolution of people of Tabriz and making insecure the Azerbaijan region through attacking the telegraph office and cutting the telegraph wires, robbing the postal packages sent from Europe, attacking Ardabil, and conquering the city paved the way for Russia's interference in Iran’s affairs, especially the northern Iran that they assumed their influence area competing with the British government. The study used a descriptive-analytical method and focused on documents and library resources. The results showed that among the initiatives of Rahim Khan were leading Chalabianlou Tribe in attacking Tabriz in the constitutional period, killing Azerbaijani constitutionalists, and making insecure the trading routes of the region. Alongside the attacks, the tsar Russian government supported covertly Rahim Khan’s initiatives and activities. 

Abstract Hatam Beig Ordoubadi was a famous and important personality in the Safavid era. He had several administrative positions and two high positions in the court. Initially he became Mostowfi al-Mamalek and then, Etemad al-Dowleh in Shah Abbas’s court. He held the position from 1000 AH to the end of his life. The term “The endowment of Etemad al-Dowleh” in the documents of Astan Quds Razavi refers us to the existence of an endowment that has not been mentioned in other historical documents. Applying the title Etemad al-Dowleh for an endowment among documents strengthens the hypothesis that we should know the endower one of the high ministers of the Safavid court. Considering the issue and posing some questions in this regard, this study focused on the related documents. Among the questions are the identification of the endower and the year in which the endowment has been done, the properties of the endowment and its uses permission. To do this, a descriptive-analytical method was used for examining 907 historical documents and sources from Safavid to Pahlavi eras. The results showed that the endower (waqef) is Hatam Ordoubadi and his endowment properties are the farm lands of Hatamabad, Shah Fil and Ghasem Abad, endowed for the maintenance and repairs of the dome and lighting of the holy shrine as well as the wages of the employees of the dome. There is no, however, any trace of the endowment deed. Moreover, examining the trajectory of the documents shows that through the history the name of the waqef and the farm of Hatamabad have been forgotten and the names of other waqefs have been recorded for the property document of this endowment. The documents entail some detailed information about the administration, the boundaries and the recording o of properties by Astan Quds Razavi regarding the incomes, expenses of incomes, the repairs, and handling complaints of tenants and residents in the farms. In addition to the mentioned details, the study showed that the properties of Hatem Beig’s endowments have undergone many changes, but they are held by Astan Quds Razavi and are administered according to rules of the endowments.

Abstract Astan Quds Razavi as an endowment organization in line with the goals of Islamic Revolution and emphasizing on Razavi culture and tradition could have an outstanding role in different domains. Participating in the Iran-Iraq war by supporting the frontiers of the war and the presence of its employees in the war are considered important steps in the history and changes of this organization. When Hoveyzeh was taken back in 1982, Astan Guds Razavi proposed and Imam Khomeini ordered the organization to reconstruct it. Considering the facilities, materials and human resources, designing managers tried to design and reconstruct the city according a project timeline. Reconstructing Hoveyzeh in the least possible time and using the best materials and the knowledge of Iranian specialists show undoubtedly Jihadi thought and Islamic management in reconstructing war destructed regions. Investigating different reconstruction steps of Hoveyzeh and the problems it faced, this study sought to answer the questions: Why Astan Quds Razavi started reconstructing Hoveyzeh in the middle of the war? Were the urbanism style, the historical identity, and the urban architecture of the reconstructed city based on the culture of that region? Taking a descriptive-analytical method and using documents on the reconstruction of Hoveyzeh and interviews, the study tried to answer these questions.

Abstract Mashhad gained the interest of Merchants of other cities in Qajar period due to its geographical and economic status. Some of the merchants greatly impacted the investment in this city. Some of the merchants tended to holding lands and aqueducts despite their business as a merchant. Moreover, some of them invested in urban aqueducts. This research sought to explore the causes and challenges of Merchants in investing in the aqueducts of Mashhad, and also to see who invested, when and in what aqueducts they invested. The results showed that due to the economic value of water in Mashhad, merchants invested in urban aqueducts from the late Qajar period. Haj Abd al-Rahim Saraf, Mashhadi Abdollah Tajerbashi, Ali Darrodi, Haji Agha Nabavian, and Haji Mahmoud Herati were the most prominent investors who invested in such urban aqueducts as Golkhatmi, Ab-Mirza, Goharshad Mosque, Salsabil, Ab-Manba’, and Darwish Beig. Such issues as drought in Mashhad after 1946, the replacement of deep wells and the need for using clean water decreased the business of holding aqueducts and reduced investment in this field. So, most of the owners sold their shares to Astan Quds Razavi. Taking a descriptive-analytical method, this study relied on the documents of Astan Quds Razavi and Khorasan periodicals.

Abstract Seals are among the significant elements that confirm and consolidate the documents of every period. Seals possess the socio-political, anthropological, and religious messages of every era. Therefore, exploring and understanding the features of the seals in those periods demonstrate the structure of correspondences. The judicial and administrative correspondences and related issues of Afsharid era that is a short period in the history of Iran have so far not been explored. This study tried to explore the features of the seals in the court, religious, and economic documents of this period. The aim was to see how much the seals have been used in the documents of this period. Moreover, the study tried to see what changes had been made in the text of seals according to the status of owners of seals. Exploring The position of the seals in Afsharid documents was another purpose of this study that focused on the documents of the Document Center of Astan Quds Razavi. A sample of the documents was selected. They were chronologically classified considering the type and content. The results showed that religious issues and the names of the owner are of high status in the text of seals. The position of the seals differs according to the kind of the documents. The study also showed that seals had been used more frequently in the documents of the Shahrokh period than in the documents of the Nader Shah period.

Abstract Many document centers and libraries are now facing diverse problems in organizing, maintaining, and protecting audiovisual resources. Some of the centers keep the archival collections in a traditional way using too simple technical facilities. The main concern of these centers is providing technical solutions for organizing and creating an integrated system of protecting these collections that are indeed documents. This study focused on experience of organizing and protecting methods taken by Astan Quds Razavi Document Center, explored the methods of preparing resources for easy organizing and protecting, and then provided some suggestions in this regard.

Abstract Britain drastically changed its political and military strategies on the Persian Gulf at the beginning of the 19th century. The country seized some new areas to enhance its influence in the Persian Gulf. Basaeidou in Qeshm Island was among the regions that the country occupied for more than a century. In 1933, an Iranian ship entered Basaeidou and lowered the flag of Britain. Later this incident prompted Britain to leave the region. Taking a descriptive-analytical approach and using documentary method, this study aimed to see the position of Basaeidou regarding the relations between Iran and Britain and what issues make Britain to leave there. The results showed that Britain took advantage of the conflicts between Iran and Soviet Union in the North of Iran during the Qajar era to occupy Basaeidou. Lowering the flag of England in Basaeidou by the Iranian Navy in the first Pahlavi period imposed a crisis in their relations. The issue created other challenges for Britain in the region. Moreover, the sheikhs advocating England doubted on the power of the country to guarantee their security. They also doubted the country’s responsibility to the people under its protection. England’s delegates in the Persian Gulf attempted to solve the problems in all possible ways. The controversy between British Embassy in Tehran and the Crown rule in India made it impossible for London unable to take a united and integrated policy about the issues. It, therefore, became one of the issues that made Britain withdraw from Basaeidou.

Abstract Barforoush city was a significant place for the settlement and activities of merchants in Qajar period due to the growth of domestic and foreign trade. The merchants usually were active both in trading and doing public-benefiting affairs. Among the merchants’ public-benefiting affairs was endowing properties and assets. It is assumed that examining the contents of their endowment deeds help understand about the types, uses, and features of the endowments of this group of society. It also helps understand more about the jobs, markets, caravanserais, houses, tekyehs, mosques, and neighborhoods of Barforoush in Qajar era. Using content analysis and focusing on the content of merchants’ endowment deeds of Barforoush, this study tried to see such issues as the amount, the use, the diversity, and the function of their endowments. The results showed that from among the merchants’ endowed properties, lands, shops, houses, and caravanserais were the most endowed ones. Regarding the use of the endowments, mourning ceremonies for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain were the most frequent usages followed by charitable and public-benefiting affairs, the daily affairs of students of religion schools. Endowing was more frequent in Naser al-Din Shah Kingdom and the following years.

Abstract The relations between Iran and Japan experienced ups and downs since 1941 due to the tensions caused by World War II. This caused japan to invest in Iran so later after the end of the war even though the country was viewed a model in Asia in recovering its lost power and progress in the economic-industrial structure. The commercial and political relations between Iran and Japan improved to some extent after the peace treaty, but the start of the Fourth Development Plan (1968-1972) provided a good opportunity for japan to find its place in the market of Iran. This study tried to find out that according to the purposes and principles of the Fourth Development Plan, how the industry and technical knowledge was transferred from Japan to Iran in terms of quantity and quality. The study focused on the motivations, contracts, abilities and capabilities of Japan and Iran and evaluated the level of relations regarding economic and cultural exchanges. Relying on the documents, reports of Iran Planning and Budget Organization, negotiations of the National Consultative Assembly, and the newspapers, this study aimed to examine economic policies and descriptively and analytical evaluate these relations and the expansion of relations based on the Fourth Development Plan. The results showed that the mutual relations continued and were expanded due to Iran’s efforts and the need of Iran Planning and Budget Organization for buying equipment, obtaining loans, and benefitting from the technical knowledge of Japanese experts in industry and Japan’s desire to buy oil and the raw materials from Iran and selling the products.

Abstract Mashhad is one of the historical cities of Iran, formed based on the existence of a holy place. Several written documents have described Mashhad, but so far, no study can be found that has described the boundaries and structure of its historical neighborhoods. Applying a descriptive-analytical method, this applied research explored a document from Golestan Palace as a case. It tried to answer the question: How was the morphology of Mashhad’s historical neighborhoods in the Qajar period, based on Colonel Julius Delmage’s map? The results showed that the administration system of Mashhad was based on six major neighborhoods. Every neighborhood, based on spatial features and residents, had different structures and different service pilgrimage spaces. All of these have been formed based on their accessibility to the central pilgrimage space of Mashhad and its gates. The formation of most caravanserais in the Paein Khiaban, Sarshour, and Noghan neighborhoods indicates more pilgrimages in them. Moreover, most of urban service spaces and guard places had been located in Sarab neighborhood, indicating that this neighborhood was the resident of the nobles. Eidgah neighborhood is considered the most religious neighborhood of Mashhad as it embraces more mosques and tekyehs, while the central part of the city and Sarab and Noghan neighborhoods are more famous for education.

Abstract The archive of Astan Quds Razavi Central Library hold as picture that illustrates the incident of bombardment of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza in 1330 AH. This picture is a significant document from various historical and artistic aspects. It has been drawn and published to inform a specific event in a special way. Mirza Taher Mosanne Razavi, an artist and craftsman who held the positions of deputy supervisor of lighting and clock making of the Holy Shrine, portrayed the event in an impressive and detailed way when Russians invaded the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. Although the historical resources narrate the event with different details, delving into the sources of the event and comparing them with Mirza Taher’s picture, will shed light on the his look at the event and as well as the tricks and elements he used to make it more impressive. This picture is one of the earliest examples that have been produced for artistic informing and propagating against the invading forces that was produced and published in the form of a lithographic monograph. Therefore, this work is a significant document about a historical even, a narrative mixed with artistic impression that is close to the event in terms of the time of the event. Moreover, the picture is significant as it narrates and informs, shows the artist’s view and emphasis on using impressive elements and his use of lithography to raise awareness about a specific event. As the artist was an artist from Mashhad, who served the pilgrims of the Holy Shrine.

Abstract Afsharid and Zand periods as short and transitional period (1135-1210 AH) was between the Safavid and Qajar periods. Although the interaction between religion and government was at the highest level in the last two periods, in Afsharid there was no interaction and in Zand period it was limited. After the fall of Safavid dynasty, Afsharid government did not support religious scholars officially, and the scholars were not active in politics domain. Migration to Atabat Aliat and India and secluding in cities and villages indicate their absence in political issues. Historical studies show that due to Nader Shah’s approach to religious issues and breaking away from the religious activities of Safavids, religious scholars could continue their education and propagation activities. A good instance is the scholars who stayed in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza and engaged safely in their educational activities. Other examples are the religious activities of such outstanding scholars as Khatounabadi, Khansari, Majlesi, and Tabatabai. Such examples show that though Afsharids did not politically support Safavid Shi’ism and pertaining religious activities of society due to external reasons and internal legitimacy, religious scholars and those of responsible of religious affairs performed their social activities in the society.

Abstract Servants (bandeh in Persian) belonged to the lower social classes of the Qajar era. The people were obtained to be properties and slaves through various ways. They were employed for various works as household, court, military, and service jobs. Unlike the West, they were behaved humanely in Iran following Sharia orders. Both owner and the servant had mutual rights that both parties should respect. Owners had to give the servants the right to be transferred to another person. This study tried to see how the ownership of slaves has changed over the Qajar era. The results showed that the servants became servants of other owners or sacred places through selling, peace treaty, lease, marriage, gift, and endowment in the form such sharia documents and contracts as purchase agreement, compromise agreement, lease, marriage contract, deed of gift, and endowment deed. Taking a descriptive-analytical method and a social history approach and relying on library resources, especially archival documents this study tried to answer appropriately the posed question of the research

Abstract Among the few endowment deeds of Astan Quds Razavi survived from the Timurid period is a copy of endowment deed belong to Khajeh Jalal al-Din Ahmad Estarabadi. According to the document that has been recorded in a literary-historical collection of the nine and early 10^th century (AH), the holder endowed a Tekyeh and a Bath in Estarabad to the lightening of Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (as) and helping the poor Muslims. The results showed that the endower and the trustees was among the Shiite authorities and Sadats of Estarabad in the Timurid and early Safavid periods. Moreover, the results showed that Estarabad was one of the most significant Shiite centers in the period, and some prominent scholars of the region served in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (as). The properties specified by the endowment have become part of the neighborhoods of Estarabad following the expansion of this city in later periods. Moreover, due to the expansion of the Holy Shrine and the increase of pilgrims, an increasing need of the Holy Shrine has been providing lighting and supporting pilgrims.