The Saffarid dynasty (Persian: صفاریان‎) was a Persian Sunni military dynasty from Sistan that ruled over parts of Greater Iran between 861 and 1003. The Saffarids were the first dynasty to seize power by force in the Islamic heartlands and spring from the bands of volunteer warriors for faith (mutatawwi'a), whose mission was to fight infidels and heretics. Its capital was located in Zaranj (a city now in southwestern Afghanistan) and the Amir, Ya’qub bin Laith as-Saffar was a former coppersmith from Sistan, who was succeeded in power by his brother, Amr bin Laith. Both rulers followed a heavily expansionist style. Thank you to Andra Curutiu for this fascinating article.