An Early Tombstone and the Office of Kh alīfatu’l Kh ulafā under the Safavids

Abstract

At Unar, in Northwestern Iran, a tombstone inscription has been found by the authors. It names the buried one as Ismā‘il bin Sultān, Khalīfatu’l Khulafā, with the date 881 AH. This is the first record of the holder of an office which was a major one under the Safavids even before they seized power in Iran. The Khalīfatu’l Khulafā headed the Sufic wing of Safavid ruler’s followers. The office declined in importance as Shi‘ite tendencies tended more and more to set limits to Sufic beliefs and practices.