Shi'ism in Persia

In the chapter "The Islam of the Persians and the origin of Shi'ism", Shakib Arslan gives his view of the rise of Shi'ism in Persia. This is the author's view, not a neutral judgement. ¹

He says that Shi'ism was not old among the non-Arabs, just as it was not old among the Arabs. He holds that the Safavid rule in the tenth century AH was among the causes of its spread. He mentions what he relates from al-Muhibbi about the Safavid lineage's connection with Imam Ali. ¹

He presents the Shi'i sects in Persia as he describes them: the Akhbaris, the Mujtahidis, and the Shaykhis, and he counts this as a description from his own observation. He holds that the Arab Shi'a in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria share with the Persians their attachment to the family of the Prophet, so in his view it is not right to reduce Shi'ism to political motive alone. ¹

A further source is needed: his account of Safavid Shi'ism and his description of the Persian sects need a reference in the history of the Safavids.