موسيقي و طرب در ابتداي عصر صفوي

Music and Dancing in Early Safavids

It could be argued that neither Shah Ismail 1 (892 - 930 A.H./1486 - 1524 AD.) nor his courtiers and Sufis were true Muslims, but merely made a show of zeal by pretending to be good Muslims. To hold the attention of the people and to carry out his own plans and those of his sufis, Shah Ismail never undertook any important move without first having show of his religious zeal. Therefore, it is hard to believe that Shah Ismail I did not like or was not fond of drinking and feasting, since he himself was very fond of then. It is ironic that we believe he forbade his Qizil-Bashes to continue these unlawful acts in his camp. The author of Tarikh-a-Jafian Gusha-yi Kfiagan states that Shah Ismail I had some musicians and dancers who were in his camp and were different from others. Since the king did not like the ordinary musicians and dancers, therefore, these people (only male) were allowed in his camp. His musicians had shaved their heads while their moustache had been allowd to drop below their lips; and they wore plumed head-dresses with tufts of feathers in them, and had strips of tiger-skin draped around their shoulders. They carried their swords at angle and their large Chukurs were slung from their necks.