The formation of Safavids, their conversion to Shi'ism and views on other tariqas

The foundations of the Safavid State, which enabled the Shi'iteisation of today's Iranian geography, are based on the Ardabil Tekke, which is known to be Sunni-Shafii. Emerging in the 13th century, the tekke had a great influence in time and gained the respect of the states of its period. The tekke, which became known in Anatolia from the period of Hodja Ali, succeeded in establishing a good army of Kizilbash Turkmens in a short period of time by using the influence gained through the activities of Sheikh Junaid in Anatolia and his kinship with the Akkoyunlu. From now on, the Safaviyya sect evolved into a political orientation and the idea of establishing a state was formed in the sect. In the period starting with Sheikh Khoja and until Shah Ismail became the head of the sect, a movement different from the traditional sect understanding was formed with the participation of Kizilbash Turkmens to the sect. Especially during the time of Sheikh Haydar, this new movement prevailed against the traditional sect understanding. From now on, the mentors of the order were Turkmen fathers known as Lahijan Sufis. In the process from tekke to state, Kizilbash Turkmens assumed important roles and helped the establishment of the Safavid State. The tekke, which succeeded in establishing a state with Shah Ismail, preferred the Shiite/Imamiyya sect as the official sect. Afterwards, differences began to emerge in the understanding of the newly established state with the Shiite ulema brought to the region. Afterwards, an unfavourable attitude towards Sufism was displayed and all sects that appeared to be against the state were persecuted. The war with neighbouring states, especially with the Ottoman Empire, turned into a Shiite-Sunni struggle. The Safaviyya sect, which succeeded in establishing a state, made a name for itself in the geography where it was founded and in other regions, and even contributed to laying the foundations of today's Iranian State. Keywords: Shiism, Safavism, Sufism, Kizilbash, Ardabil Tekke, Imamiyya