Šāh

Granting that Šāh Walī Allāh laid the foundations of modern Qur’ān interpretation in India, what is to be said about the complexion and rôle of the great religious institution at Deoband, the Dār al-ʿUlūm which claims to continue the teachings of Šāh Walī Allāh and his immediate successors.

Ṭabarī, vol. I, pp. 27–26 relates that between 41–60 H./661–679, the Šāh of Kābulistān had chased to Amul (in Tabaristan: see Marquart, index) his brother the Rutbīl who became ruler of Seistān, Al-Ruḫḫaǧ, Al-Dāwar.

The second and perhaps even more important way in which the Ṣafavid šāhs kept the muḡtahids under control was by usurping the prerogative of the latter to be the representatives of the Hidden Imām upon earth.[…]If Xomeynī’s grip on affairs slips, Iran may well move sharply to the left. If that happens, the muḡtahids will find themselves battling against a secularizing force far more powerful than that of the Pahlavi šāhs.

The Šāh had always particularly feared assassination and his concern for his dynasty now added new urgency to that fear.

Several astrologers counselled the šāhs about auspicious days, cast horoscopes and dedicated astrological as well as astronomical writings to them.