In the second century of the Islamic calendar, the Abbasid Caliphate was established based on the central tenet of the caliphate, characterized by its Qurashi and Arab identity, as well as the specific allegiance of elites and the general populace, thereby forming a legitimate power structure. From this position, social cohesion emerged within the geographical realm under Abbasid authority. The Mongol invasion and the fall of Baghdad exacerbated this crisis. Nonetheless, the people still looked toward the exiled Abbasid caliph, who had taken refuge with the Mamluks.
Amidst these circumstances, Sultan Selim I, by attacking Cairo and overthrowing the Mamluks, compelled the Abbasid caliph in the Hagia Sophia to transfer the caliphate to himself.
The central question addressed in this paper is: how did these two governments manage to legitimize their authority amidst the crisis of the caliphate? The hypothesis posited is that in Iran, from the very beginning of the Abbasid era, a reevaluation of the unifying elements expressed in Persian language and the conceptualizations of Shia Islam paved the way for the emergence of an independent Iranian government. In contrast, the Osmani caliphate’s legitimacy was achieved through the collaboration of Sunni jurists, who rationalized their support for the Osmani caliphate and mobilized the general populace under conditions of emergency and coercion. We will analyze the social conditions and the arguments presented to explore the institutionalization of Osmani and Safavid power.