Why Is Iran Shia? | Iran Documentary

Let's Talk About Religion's video on Twelver Shi'ism:

Street Food Channel:

Iran is seen as the heartland of Shi’ism in today’s world. But it wasn’t always like that. The country’s conversion from Sunni to Shia took place in the 16th & 17th centuries during the rule of the Safavid dynasty, who sought to create a distinct political identity for their state. Under Shah Ismail I and his successors, the Safavids made an active effort to enforce the Twelver Shia creed on their citizens. Through a host of different policies, including violence, the religious demographics of Persia changed slowly but surely to the point that by the end of the dynasty in 1722, Persia had become predominantly Shia.

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Music Used:

Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting):

If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!

0:00 Intro
1:03 Pre-15th Century Persian & Safavid Context
2:38 Twelver Shi'ism
5:27 Safavid Seizure of Power
7:53 Migration & The Amili Approach

[HikmaHistory]

How would Iran be different to what it is now if it had remained Sunni?

[HistoryOfRevolutions]

Most of the polymaths in the Islamic golden age were Persians. Whether they were Sunni or Shia, Persians always contributed to Islamic civilisation. Polymaths such as Ibn Sina , Al- Biruni , Al- Khwarizmi , Al- Razi, Al Tusi, Tabari and Al Ghazali and so many others were all Persian.

[Mary-qoer]

We Iranians are no longer Muslims and are disillusioned with the religion; we are neither Shia nor Sunni; we are Zoroastrians. However, we respect Arabs and Muslims who show us respect.

[LetsTalkReligion]

Excellent work as always!
A pleasure collaborating with you again!

[jackpayne]

There is a curious parallel between the Sunni/Shia struggle in Iran and the Catholic/Protestant conflict in England (and elsewhere) during the same period - both ending around 1600 with successful conversion to the newer faith.

[Stoneworks]

Here from Lets Talk Religion- Great Stuff!!

[harunkuf]

Great topic to talk about! Turks first encountered the caliphate but learnt more about islam from the Persians. Most of the Islam related words that we use today stems from the Persian language. For example we don't say Salat. We use Namaz.

[starfthegreat]

I'm from South Lebanon (Jabal Amil), and family lore has it that my ancestors were amongst the scholars that migrated to Persia. My grandfather even wrote a book about this called التشيّع بين جبل عامل وإيران (Shiism between Jabal Amel and Iran). It's a shame that appart from Shias few Lebanese are aware of this history despite the enormous impact it had on modern history

[plungr]

Very interesting, because for the first 1000 years, Persia produced many famous Sunni scholars. Shia as a majority sect. has only been in Iran for approximately 400-500 years. They have been Sunnis longer than they have been Shias.

[MirzaAliQasimRaza]

I have not seen a more accurate and helpful explanation of this part of history. Explains alot. Thank u❤️

[ARse-kolz]

the number of turkish special forces in the comments is greater than the ottoman forces that fought the safavids

[aasemahsan]

1:06 Persia before the Safavids
1:24 Beginning of Safavid rule
Qizilbash (Early Safavid army)
Shah Ismail I (first Safavid ruler)
5:26 Religious persecution
7:53 Migration of Shia scholars to Persia & a comparatively moderate approach
10:12 Shia identity in Safavid dynasty

[Tensoren-yjux]

If the first Safavid shah let himself be seen as the 12th imam how did the Safavids explain the fact that Judgement Day didn't happen during his lifetime? Great video by the way! Thanks.

[stupidchukhna]

Another note to add, Uzun Hasan of the Bayandir tribe (Ak koyunlu) conquered Iran under Shia Islam long before the Safavids and he also cooperated with them and laid the foundations for Shia Islam in Persia

[lerneanlion]

Now that you've covered how Iran became predominantly Shi'a Islamic country, will you do about Egypt and Sicily but in reverse too? After all, the Fatimids and the Kalbids were Shi'a dynasties but the peoples remained largely Sunni for those who are Muslims.

[advisor]

In iran before safavid empire many shia Muslims lived in shia cities like qom, kashan, north of iran, sabsevar, rey, ...
Safavid with help of these shia people successfully converted other persian people to shia islam.
Its a fact that many historian ignored it.

[aminahmadi]

Passing Imamat down from father to son is generally true, but the next imam isn't necessarily the son of the present imam. For example, the second imam was Hasan ibn Ali (PBUH) and the third imam was Husayn ibn Ali (PBUH), and they were brothers. Despite Imam Hasan's had many sons,

[Zanskar]

Being a Sunni Muslim and I was nourish in a sunni family never heard and teach from my parents to curse any of the companion of the beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW. Infact I was teach that the family of the Prophet was one of the pious and God loving people, his Companions where also a God loving people Indeed there was a a difference between the companion of Prophet Muhammad but cursing was not an option I was taught .we as a sunni Muslims belive in 10 pious companion of beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW who was granted paradise by Prophet Muhammad SAW when he was alive, Hazrat Ali and whole of his family was among them, in every Friday prayer we sunii send blessing to the family of Prophet and his companion so where from the verge of hatred comes in Shia.

[brightburnedits]

Before this iranian empire many Iranian empires were shia like Iranian buyid dynasty that conquer abbasid cqliphate Or Iranian qarmatians that conquer Arabia they were shia

[tamimmusafer]

The Samanid Empire (Persian: سامانیان, romanized: Sāmāniyān) also known as the Samanian Empire, Samanid dynasty, Samanid amirate, or simply Samanids) was aempire, [8] from 819 to 999. The empire was centred in Khorasan and Transoxiana; at its greatest extent encompassing modern-day Afghanistan, huge parts of Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and parts of Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Four brothers—Nuh, Ahmad, Yahya, and Ilyas—founded the Samanid state. Each of them ruled territory under Abbasid suzerainty. In 892, Ismail Samani (892–907) united the Samanid state under one ruler, thus effectively putting an end to the feudal system used by the Samanids. It was also under him that the Samanids became independent of Abbasid authority.