The Family History of Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī: the Ninth-Century ʿAbbasid Political Elite and the Ṭālibids in Samarra

A key insight from this study is that the Ṭālibids, as close kin of the Prophet Muhammad, served as a source of political legitimacy and prestige during the turbulent second half of the ninth century under ʿAbbasid rule. This prestige attracted the political elite, including the Iṣfahānī family, to align with the Ṭālibids in Samarra. The study analyzes the social networks and socio-political dynamics of three generations of the Iṣfahānī family, revealing that the division within the Ṭālibids—between politically active and quietist factions—facilitated alliances with the elite. Additionally, it suggests that the Iṣfahānīs' Shiʿi belief was characterized by reverence for ʿAlī and his descendants without political ambition, contrasting with more assertive forms of Shiʿism. The research employs a combination of genealogical analysis and socio-political context to unpack these dynamics.

Su, I.-W. (2018). The Family History of Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī: the Ninth-Century ʿAbbasid Political Elite and the Ṭālibids in Samarra. Journal of Islamic Studies, 29(3), 417–448. https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/ety001