Asfar ibn Shiruya

Asfar ibn Shiruya (Gilaki/Persian: اسفار بن شیرویه: died 931) was an Iranian military leader of Gilaki origin, active in northern Iran (esp.

Like many other Gilakis and Daylamites, Asfar was not a Muslim—he was in fact a nationalist, who loathed Arab rule and admired the Iranian Empire.

Eventually, Hasan ibn Qasam (called al-da'i al-saghir, "the lesser missionary") managed to emerge victorious.

It was around this period, that the Samanid Empire was seeking to expand their power from Transoxiana and Khorasan into northern Iran, opposing Zaydi Shia Islam there whilst advocating the Sunni movement against it.

In 930, Mardavij along with Asfar's brother, Shirzad, were ordered to capture Tarom, the capital of the Sallarid ruler Muhammad ibn Musafir.