Abu Bakr ibn Sa'd

Since 1148, the southern Iranian region of Fars had been ruled by the Turkoman Salghurid dynasty.[1] Abu Bakr was the son of Sa'd I (r. 1198–1226), the Salghurid atabeg (ruler) of Fars. Before his succession to the throne, Abu Bakr attempted to seize power by rebelling in Shiraz against his father during the latter's conflict with two princes of the Khwarazmian Empire. He was, however, defeated by local troops and imprisoned. Just before his father's death on 5 November 1226, Abu Bakr was released and subsequently became the new atabeg.[2][1]

On 12 November 1230, Abu Bakr captured the Kish Island, thus giving him access to the trade between the Persian Gulf and India, where he could enforce dues on it. In August 1236, Abu Bakr seized the islands of Bahrayn, which was officially part of the Abbasid Caliphate. This resulted in a long struggle against its Arab inhabitants.[2]

Following the occupation of northern Iran and Baghdad by Ilkhanid ruler Hulagu Khan (r. 1256–1265), Abu Bakr declared his allegiance to him by sending his son Sa'd II to the Mongol court at Baghdad. During Sa'd II's assignment, Abu Bakr died, on 18 May 1260.[1][2] Sa'd II thus succeeded him, but died en route at Tafresh due to illness after ruling for twelve or eighteen days.[1][3]

According to the modern historian John Limbert, Abu Bakr's death marked the start of the decline of the Salghurids, as his successors were either "drunkards, braggarts, or children," contrary to the previous "harsh and tough-minded Salghurid rulers."[3]

Abu Bakr was highly interested in learning, and had a circle of scholars and artists such as Saadi Shirazi (died 1291/92), who resided at his court.[2] Saadi used his pen name in admiration of Abu Bakr, and also dedicated his first major work to the latter, the Bustan.[4] During this period, culture flourished in Fars; Abu Bakr ordered the construction of many hospitals and high-level religious establishments which attracted many scholars.[5]

According to local traditions, Abu Bakr's minister Amir Muqarrab al-Din Mas'ud discovered the burial place of Ahmad, a brother of the eight Imam Ali al-Ridha (died 818). He was identified by the seal ring he wore. Consequently, the locals saw light emerging from a hill, where they allegedly found the burial place of Ahmad's brother Husayn. Abu Bakr had the hill dug, where they found an unscathed body holding a Quran and a sword.[6]

• Ibrahim, Lutpi (1979). "Al-Baydāwī's Life and Works". Islamic Studies. 18: 311–321. JSTOR 20847119. (registration required)
• Kamola, Stefan (2019). Making Mongol History Rashid al-Din and the Jamiʿ al-Tawarikh. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1474421423.
• Limbert, John (2004). Shiraz in the Age of Hafez. University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0295983912.
• Spuler, B. (1983). "Abū Bakr b. Saʿd". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume I/3: Ablution, Islamic–Abū Manṣūr Heravı̄. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 261. ISBN 978-0-71009-092-8.
• Spuler, B. (1987). "Atābakān-e Fārs". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume II/8: Aśoka IV–Āṯār al-Wozarāʾ. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 894–896. ISBN 978-0-71009-108-6.

• Bosworth, C. E. (1995). "Salg̲h̲urids". In Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. & Lecomte, G. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam. Volume VIII: Ned–Sam (2nd ed.). Leiden: E. J. Brill. pp. 978–979. ISBN 978-90-04-09834-3.