تاريخ اسلام در آينه پژوهش

After the establishment of the first Shiite state in Iran in the third century ('AH'), i.e., the Alawids in Tabarestan, other great Shiite states like Buyids, Fatimids, and Hamdanids came to existence in the fourth century ('AH'). The role which these states played in spreading the Twelvers' and Isma'ilids' beliefs and Islamic culture and civilization, especially introducing the Shiite symbols in Iran, is undeniable. However, these states could not establish a great Shiite empire although they witnessed the 'Abbasids’ terminal decline. They always fought and competed against each other and their main concern was to expand their dominion. Although historical sources talk about the interaction between them, the present paper discusses in detail the relations among Shiite states in fourth century ('AH'), using an approach based on documentary analysis.