Journal of Diplomatics Studies and Research

The entanglement of politics and religion in the bazar of Tehran (Case study: the endowment documents of Shah Caravanserai)

https://doi.org/10.22034/dpr.2026.587803.1022
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
October 2026
Pages 132-162
Journal of Diplomatics Studies and Research

Document Type : Original Article

Author

hamidreza aryanfar

Faculty of Iranology Foundation

Abstract
One of the important aspects in the study of traditional markets is related to the entanglement of political relations with economic relations and on the other hand with religious relations. The present research aims to explain the role of waqf in organizing the economic affairs of the Tehran market; Emphasizing the endowment of the Shah's caravanserai by Ali Khan Zalul Sultan, one of the nobles of the Qajar era, and the analysis of its ruling logic in one of the most important commercial centers of the bazaar. As one of the most important mechanisms for organizing economic, religious and social affairs in Iran during the Qajar period, the Waqf institution has been a reflection of power relations in the economic structure of historical markets. In the current research, which was done in order to explain the intertwining of politics and religion in the Shah's caravanserai (Republic Palace), an attempt was made to study the relationship between the political domain and the market relations in the middle period of the Qajar rule, using the historical research method and the descriptive-analytical approach. The findings indicate that the Qajar family, with the knowledge of commercial places, sought to continue the operation of endowments and implement their endowment intentions. In general, the actions of the Waqif rulers in the Qajar period are a reflection of the political structure of the ruler, and the role of religious dignity in the economic mechanisms of the market, and it shows that the actions of the Waqif rulers of this period were based on the continuation of the intertwining of politics, religion and economy.

Keywords

Qajar period
endowment documents
Ali Khan Zal-ul-Stan
Tehran Bazaar
Shah Caravanserai
Subjects
References
 
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  • Receive Date 21 June 2026
  • Revise Date 27 July 2026
  • Accept Date 09 September 2026

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