2020, vol. 8, no. 4. Parvin S., Sattarnejad S., Hendiani E.

2020, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 636-646

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2020-8-4.636-646

   THE VICTORY OF ISLAM OVER THE BUDDHIST RELIGION
(REVIEWING THE INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRINE
OF IMAMZADEH MULLA “MA‘SUM” OF MARAGHEH)

Samad Parvin 1a, Saeid Sattarnejad 1b, Elham Hendiani 2
1 University of Mohaghegh Ardabili
Ardabil, Iran
a arjaan1370@gmail.com, b saeidsattarnejad@yahoo.com
2 Tabriz Islamic Art University
Tabriz, Iran
el.hendiani@gmail.com

Abstract: Research objectives: The main purpose of this article is to study the Quranic inscription of the Imamzadeh Ma’sum Temple in Maragheh. This inscription shows the evolution of religious beliefs during the Ilkhanid period in Iran which started from the se­venth century AH and continued until the eighth century AH. The main religions of the Ilkhanid rulers were Buddhism and Christianity, but they gradually adopted Islam as the official religion of government. The influence of the process of conversion has left traces in some of the inscriptions of this period. Another purpose of this study is to introduce the Imamzadeh Ma’sum temple as one of the Buddhist temples in Iran.
Research materials: In this study, the authors have used two methods, namely field research and library surveys. Regarding the first method, the temple of Imamzadeh Ma’sum was examined. Regarding the second method, the historical sources of the Ilkhanid period, such as the Jami’ al-tawarikh of Khajeh Rashid al-Din Faḍlullah Hamadani, were used. These works refers to the situation of Buddhists in Iran during the Ilkhanid period (i.e. the seventh century AH).
Results and novelty of the research: The results of the authors’ research in this article have demonstrated that the temple of Imamzadeh Ma’sum of Maragheh was one of the Buddhist temples in Iran. This Buddhist temple was changed to an Islamic mosque after the conversion of Ghazan Khan in 694 AH. The surviving Qur’anic inscription inside the buil­ding refers to the victory of Islam over Buddhism.

Keywords: shrine of Imamzadeh Mulla Ma’sum, inscriptions, rock-cut architecture, political-religious beliefs, Ilkhanid period

For citation: Parvin S., Sattarnejad S., Hendiani E. The Victory of Islam over the Buddhist Religion (Reviewing the Inscriptions of the Shrine of Imamzadeh Mulla “Ma’sum” of Maragheh). Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie=Golden Horde Review. 2020, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 636–646. DOI: 10.22378/2313-6197.2020-8-4.636-646

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About the authors: Samad P. Parvin – Graduate of Archaeology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili (University Str., Ardabil 5619911367, Iran). E-mail: arjaan1370@gmail.com

Saeid S. Sattarnejad – Ph.D. student of archaeology of Islamic periods, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili (University Str., Ardabil 5619911367, Iran): E-mail: saeidsattarnejad@yahoo.com

Elham H. Hendiani – Tabriz Islamic Art University (Azadi Blvd., Hakim Nizami Ganjavi Sq., Tabriz 5164736931, Iran). E-mail: el.hendiani@gmail.com

Received  July 1, 2020   Accepted for publication  November 2, 2020
Published  Online December 29, 2020