Sadr al-Dīn Mūsā

Sadr al-Din Musa (1305-1391) was the son and successor of Safi-ad-din Ardabili. His mother was Bibi Fatima, daughter of Zahed Gilani. Sadr al-Din directed the Safaviyya for 59 years. During this time, the activities of the Safaviyya were viewed with favour by Timur, who provided an endowment for the shrine of Safi-ad-din Ardabili in Ardabil, and allowed Sadr al-Din to collect taxes. Timur also offered Sadr al-Din to request any favour from himself, and Sheikh Sadr al-Din asked for the release of Turkish prisoners captured by Timur from Diyarbakır. Timur accepted this request, and the freed prisoners became Sadr al-Din's loyal disciples. The descendants of these freed prisoners, emigrating by the thousands into Gilan province, would later aid his family to found a dynasty.