One of the reasons that the Safavid empire is considered to be the most successful dynasty of Iran after the advent Islam, is due to the large presence of scholars and scientist in the Safavid government apparatus. The eagerness of the Safavid kings to keep those noblemen in the court by paying respect and importance to their work, is an exemplar and worthy of attention.
Two personalities worked in the court of Shah Abbas I who were like a blessing of that monarchy, one of them was a great scholar Mir Mohammad Baqer Damad Asterabadi known as Mir Damad, and the other was a scholar of religious sciences Sheikh Baha’i. It is said that one-day Shah Abbas was ready to ride for some entertainment and these two ascetic scholars, who were very close to the king, also accompanied the king’s retinue.
Shah decided to test the honesty and inner purity of those two scholars. He approached Mir Damad, that because of his huge stature was riding behind them and whose face looked tired, and said to him: “This Sheikh Baha’i doesn’t follow the duty of obedience and dignity and rides in front of everyone in high speed, unlike you, humble and full of dignity.
Mir Damad replied: “It is not so as you say. The sheikh’s horse because of the intensity of excitement felt by carrying such a respectful and great scholar can’t walk slowly and calmly and moves fast.” Then Shah secretly approached the sheikh and said to him: “Mir Damad is so fat that he already tired out his horse and he cannot move anymore.”
Sheikh replied: “That is not so as you say. This tiredness that the horse of Mir Damad is feeling comes from its inability to carry all that wisdom that even the highest mountains cannot hold it.” Shah Abbas immediately jumped off the horse and in front of all the retinue he fell on his knees and praised and thanked God for the great blessings and innate purity and true-heartedness of the scholars of this age.
Name Mir Borhan Al-din Mohammad Bagher Damad Astarabadi
Fame Mirdamad, Moalem-e (teacher) Saleth
Profession Philosopher, Speaker and Clergy
Pseudonym Ishragh
Lifetime Safavid Era
Tomb The Shrine of Emam Ali Bin Abitaleb
