Reconfiguration of Iranian Identity in the Jibāl Province from the Islamic Conquest to the Consolidation of Local Powers: A Historical-Sociological Analysis of Religion, Power, and Cultural Resistance)

Authors

1 1. PhD Student of Islamic History, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

3 3. Associate Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

4 Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22111/jhr.2025.53244.3829

Abstract

Abstract
This study examines the reconfiguration of Iranian identity in the province of Jibāl from the Islamic conquest to the consolidation of local dynasties, adopting a historical–sociological approach. Moving beyond the binary of pre-Islamic versus Islamic Iran, it explores the interplay of religion, power, and culture during the transition from Sasanian structures to the Abbasid caliphal order, highlighting a gradual and multidimensional transformation of identity. Drawing on critical historical analysis of early Islamic chronicles, geographical works, and literary sources, the research focuses on social actors—particularly Iranian elites—and their strategies for mobilizing cultural, symbolic, and historical resources. Jibāl is conceptualized as a dynamic arena in which Abbasid authority, local elites, and diverse cultural currents negotiated power, legitimacy, and social status.
Findings indicate that religious transformation went beyond the simple replacement of Zoroastrianism with Islam, becoming a contested sphere over meaning, authority, and social positioning. Iranian elites leveraged the Persian language, festivals, and historical memory to reinterpret cultural capital and secure influence within the new political and religious order. Local dynasties, especially the Buyids and Ziyarids, reinforced this process by selectively reviving pre-Islamic symbols and rituals, establishing a balance between caliphal authority and Iranian heritage. This study underscores the importance of regional analysis for understanding identity transformation in transitional societies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam
Volume 19, Issue 37
November 2025
Pages 168-206

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  • Receive Date: 20 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 30 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 December 2025

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