The History of the Introduction of Shi'ism to Thailand and the Role of Sheikh Ahmad Qomi in Its Expansion

Sheikh Ahmad Qomi and the Spread of Shia Islam in Thailand

Autores/as

Palabras clave:

Thailand, Shia Islam, Sheikh Ahmad Qomi, Cultural exchange, Iranian influence

Resumen

This study investigates the historical introduction and propagation of Shia Islam in Thailand, with a particular emphasis on the pivotal role of Sheikh Ahmad Qomi. Arriving in the 17th century during the Ayutthaya era, Sheikh Ahmad emerged as a significant figure within the Siamese court, facilitating cultural and religious interactions between Iran and Thailand. His elevation to the esteemed position of Joularat Chammontri charged with overseeing Muslim affairs and foreign relations, allowed him to formalize Shia practices within Thailand. A notable contribution was his introduction of the Ashura commemoration, honoring Imam Hussein (a.s.), which integrated Shia Islam into a predominantly Buddhist society. The investigation also considers the earlier presence of Iranian Muslims in Thailand, tracing back to the Sukhothai period and potentially earlier. Historical documentation reveals that trade and cultural exchanges facilitated the arrival of Iranian merchants and academics. By the Ayutthaya period, Iranian cultural influence extended beyond religious aspects to include Persian art, cuisine, and fashion, evidenced by the adoption of Persian-inspired attire within the Thai royal court. Sheikh Ahmad also significantly contributed to the political and economic relations between Siam and various Islamic states, establishing a lasting Iranian presence in Thailand. His legacy is evidenced by the continued prominence of his descendants in political spheres, underscoring Sheikh Ahmad’s enduring impact on Thailand's multicultural identity, as well as the critical role of trade, migration, and religion in the assimilation of Shia Islam and Persian culture.

Citas

Bahranipour, A. (2004). A look at the relations between Iran and Siam (Thailand) during the reign of Shah Suleiman Safavi (1077–1106 AH / 1666–1694 AD) with an emphasis on the role of the Iranian diaspora in Siam. Quarterly Journal of the History of Foreign Relations, 20, 6–7.

Chulitphong, C. (2003). ขุนนางกรมท่าขวา,การศึกษาบทบาทและหน้าที่ในสมัยอยุธยาถึง สมัยรัตนโกสินทร์ พ.ศ. 2153-2435 [The right-hand minister: A study of roles and duties from the Ayutthaya to the Rattanakosin period, 2153–2435 BE]. Thailand: Khrōngkān Phœ̄iphrǣ Phonngān Wichākān, Khana ʻAksō̜nrasāt, Čhulālongkō̜nmahāwitthayālai.

Dānsh-nāmah-ye Islāmī: Sheikh Ahmad Qomi [Islamic Encyclopedia: Sheikh Ahmad Qomi]. (n.d.). Pujatkan online. Retrieved from https://mgroonline.com/onlinesection/detail/9590000021710

Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024). Thailand. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Thailand

Fadaei, S. A. (1995). Gozari bar jahan-e Islam: Musalmānān Tailand [An overview of the Islamic world: Muslims in Thailand]. Mishkah Magazine, No.46, 69–95.

Faghihi, A. A. (1999). Tārikh-e Mazhabi Qom: Bakhsh-e Aval az Tārikh-e Jāme' Qom [Religious History of Qom: Part One of the Comprehensive History of Qom]. Qom, Iran: Astan Quds Razavi, Zā'er Publications.

Ibn Manzur, M. (1993). Lisan al-Arab (3rd ed., Vol. 8, p. 188). Beirut: Dar Sadir. (Original work published 711 AH)

Jetiya, K. (2020, December 30). การเปลี่ยนชื่อประเทศจาก “สยาม” เป็น “ไทย” [The change of the country's name from "Siam" to "Thailand"]. Parliament Museum Thailand. Retrieved from https://parliamentmuseum.go.th/2564/ar64-siam-thai.html

Jowalrat Chamontri official site. Retrieved from https://www.skthai.org/th/pages/6794

Kit Tari, A. (2016). Jāygāh-e siāsī-e ejtemā'ī-ye mosalmānān-e Tailand dar dore-ye mo'āser [The political and social status of Muslims in Thailand in the contemporary era] (Master's thesis).

Marcinkowski, M. I. (2005). From Isfahan to Ayutthaya: Contacts between Iran and Siam in the 17th century. Singapore: Pustaka Nasional.

Muslims in Thailand. (1994). (2nd ed., pp. 1-5). Bangkok: Central Islamic Library of Thailand.

Pappas, S., & McKelvie, C. (2022, October 17). What is culture? Live Science. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/21478-what-is-culture-definition-of-culture.html

Rajanubhab, D. (2001). Our wars with the Burmese. Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd.

Sadeghi, Z. (2012). Muravej-e Tashi'a dar Tailand [The promoter of Shi'ism in Thailand]. Mahnāmeh-ye Mavood, 7(141), 4.

Safina, S. (1984). Kholāseh-ye Safīneh-ye Sulaimani [Summary of Safina Sulaimani]. Translation into Thai, p. 1.

Shahrastani, M. (n.d.). Al-Milal wal-Nihal (Vol. 1, p. 146). Beirut: Al-Halabi Publications.

Sheikh Ahmad Qomi. (1392). Muravej-e Tashi'a dar Sarzamīn-e Tailand [The promoter of Shi'ism in Thailand]. Dars-hā'ī az Maktab-e Islām [Lessons from the Islamic School], 627, 57–64.

Tabatabai, S. M. H. (n.d.). Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an (Vol. 17, p. 147). Isfahan: Ismailian Publications.

Taghavi Baghan, M. (2020). Bersyi anvae pooshesh sare mardaan va zanaan dar doreh Safavi [A study of types of head coverings for men and women in the Safavid period]. Pazhohesh dar Honar va Oloum-e Ensāni [Research in Arts and Humanities, 5(7), 30–37.

Worldometer. (2024). Thailand population (LIVE). Retrieved from https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/thailand-population/

Descargas

Publicado

2025-06-10

Cómo citar

Mujtaba, M. R. (2025). The History of the Introduction of Shi’ism to Thailand and the Role of Sheikh Ahmad Qomi in Its Expansion: Sheikh Ahmad Qomi and the Spread of Shia Islam in Thailand. FOTROS Journal, 2(1), 37–59. Recuperado a partir de https://fotrosjournals.com/index.php/pub/article/view/10

Número

Vol. 2 Núm. 1 (2025): Faith, Self, and Meaning: Explorations Across Religion, Gender, and Literature

Sección

Articles

Categorías

Licencia

Derechos de autor 2025 Muhammad Reza Mujtaba

Creative Commons License

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución 4.0.

"Términos de licencia para la Revista FOTROS

Al enviar un artículo a la Revista FOTROS, se solicita a los autores que acepten los siguientes términos de licencia:

Licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) Todos los artículos publicados en la Revista FOTROS están bajo la licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0). Esta licencia permite a otros:

Compartir — copiar y redistribuir el material en cualquier medio o formato.
Adaptar — remezclar, transformar y construir sobre el material para cualquier propósito, incluso comercialmente.

Bajo los siguientes términos:

Atribución — Debe dar el crédito apropiado, proporcionar un enlace a la licencia e indicar si se han realizado cambios. Puede hacerlo de cualquier manera razonable, pero no de manera que sugiera que el licenciante lo respalda a usted o a su uso.
Sin restricciones adicionales — No puede aplicar términos legales o medidas tecnológicas que restrinjan legalmente a otros de hacer cualquier cosa que la licencia permita.

Derechos del autor Los autores retienen los siguientes derechos:

Derechos de autor — Los autores conservan los derechos de autor de su trabajo.
Reutilización — Los autores pueden poner su trabajo a disposición bajo los términos de la licencia CC BY 4.0 o cualquier otra licencia que elijan, siempre que el trabajo se atribuya adecuadamente a la publicación original en la Revista FOTROS.
Distribución — Los autores pueden distribuir su trabajo en línea (por ejemplo, en repositorios institucionales o en su sitio web) antes y durante el proceso de envío, ya que puede llevar a intercambios productivos y a una mayor citación del trabajo publicado.

Garantía e indemnización Los autores garantizan que:

El trabajo es original y está escrito por ellos.
Tienen los derechos necesarios para otorgar la licencia.
El trabajo no infringe los derechos de terceros.

Los autores aceptan indemnizar y eximir de responsabilidad a la Revista FOTROS por cualquier reclamo que surja de un incumplimiento de esta garantía."