Editorial policies

The Isfahan Encyclopedia: An organized treasury of precise information and coherent knowledge about the history, culture, and civilization of Isfahan. The editorial policies governing this treasury are as follows:

1. The encyclopedia adheres to academic principles and writing standards, using original sources and applying a critical perspective towards them. Authors provide citations for their claims as footnotes (not endnotes) at the end of each claim or paragraph. Since the work is not intended to be repetitive, standard and useful articles from other encyclopedias are republished in the Isfahan Encyclopedia in their original form (with moral rights preserved) or in a revised form. Every effort is made to provide readers with completely accurate information in simple language. In the encyclopedia, any repetition of content or use of synonymous terms under different headings is not permitted. The language of articles is simple, free from affectation, frivolity, complexity, and extreme purism (Sāreh-nevisi).

2. Partisan, factional, religious, or ideological bias; prejudiced judgments; and language of flattery or exaggeration regarding persons, subjects, and the culture of Isfahan have no place in the encyclopedia. Following international norms for academic works worldwide, titles such as Doctor (Dr.), Hujjat al-Islam, Ayatollah, etc., are not used for individuals in the Isfahan Encyclopedia, unless the title is famous for that person and functions like a surname, e.g., Sheikh Ansari or Imam Khomeini.

3. The encyclopedia’s audience is assumed to be educated non-specialists. Through the encyclopedia’s compilation process, a scientific institution beyond the educational and research work of seminaries (Hawza) and universities will be established. This goal will be achieved by employing the best Iranian and non-Iranian Isfahan researchers. Therefore, article authors are not only Isfahani researchers but also those who have an interest in Isfahan.

4. Authors and historians of thought in the encyclopedia do not refer to non-researchable metaphysical elements, such as divine assistance or God’s will, in the emergence of a thought, phenomenon, or thing (three distinct entities), regardless of their personal beliefs. The task of a historian of thought is to express objective, natural elements, not to perform theological duties. This method has precedent among ancient Muslim historians, such as when Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari in *History of the Prophets and Kings* or Muhammad ibn Abdul-Karim Shahrastani in *The Book of Sects and Creeds* describe an event or the belief of a group, they focus on the historical-social context of its emergence, and it is rarely or never seen that they say, for example, God willed that the Mu’tazilites be removed from the political scene.

5. The scope of the encyclopedia’s information is:
* **Historically:** Isfahan before and after the advent of Islam.
* **Geographically:** The area of the known boundaries of the region (Iqlim) of Isfahan in historical geographical texts titled “Isfahan / Ispahan / Sepahan and Jay”. The word “Iqlim” (region) is chosen to avoid limiting ourselves to modern national divisions.
* **Culturally:** All branches of culture among all people who have lived in this land, of any religion (limited to religions officially recognized in the constitution), creed, ethnicity, and any artistic taste.
* **Civilizationally:** All valuable registered buildings and architectures in the Iranian National Documents Center.

6. In the Isfahan Encyclopedia, every (a) subject, (b) concept, (c) person, (d) written or non-written work, and (e) geographical location is viewed through the lens of its connection to Isfahan. For example, articles will be written about those musical modes (Maqām) that have a strong connection to Isfahan. Another example: the biography of any poet, jurist, philosopher, politician, artist, architect, litterateur, physician, engineer, and entrepreneur is written from the perspective of their impact on Isfahan and their services to this city, not in an absolute manner. Criteria for selecting individuals are provided in clause 13.

7. Encyclopedia headings follow a letter-by-letter alphabetical order (as opposed to word-by-word). In this order, the letters forming the headings are compared without considering spaces between words, as if the words are connected. For example, “Shahcheragh” comes before “Shahzadeh Ahmad”. Also, the letter “آ” (Ā) precedes the letter “ا” (Alef). Furthermore, “Al-” (ال) at the beginning of personal names and book names is ignored for alphabetical sorting. In Arabic words, the hamza (أ, إ, ئ, ؤ) is sorted based on its seat (respectively as ا, ا, ی, و). The ta’ marbuta (ة) is considered as “ت” (T), e.g., “Thiqat al-Islam” comes before “Thaqafi”; however, in words where the ta’ marbuta (ة) is pronounced as “ه” (H), such as “Dāyere”, “Resāle”, and “Āye”, the Persian spelling of the word is the criterion for arrangement.

8. When there is doubt about the more correct or suitable form of a person’s name, neighborhood, building, or street, the more famous, older, and more common form in sources and public perception is chosen, even if technically such usage is not correct; e.g., Sheikh Bahai (main heading), which is more famous than Ameli, Baha’eddin (reference heading); Kohneh/Atiq Square (main heading) is more famous than Imam Ali Square (reference heading); Alliance School (main heading) and Shahid Halabian School (reference heading); Masjed-e Jamé (main heading) and Jamé Mosque (reference heading), unlike Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque (main heading) and Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah (reference heading). The symbol “←” is used to refer to reference headings. Headings that are removed from the article commissioning process for any reason remain in the heading database as “deleted” (Mahzuf) to remain part of the encyclopedia’s work history and records. Deleted headings are not displayed on the encyclopedia website.

9. Content for multi-faceted headings is presented through main and sub-headings; e.g., the main heading “Jews (Isfahan)” has several facets: Customs and Traditions (sub-heading); Dialect and Accent (sub-heading); Demographics (sub-heading). Sub-headings may have multiple authors.

10. For persons who have the word “Isfahani” or “Esfahani” in their title or surname, if they have another famous title or epithet, that title will be considered the main heading, and the “Isfahani” title will be the reference heading. This strategy is to avoid excessive accumulation of headings under the letter Alef (ا) and the heading “Isfahan”. For example: Āghā Najafi, Family (main heading) and Esfahani, Family (reference heading); Bayāt-e Esfahān, Musical Mode and Row (main heading) and Esfahān, Musical Mode and Row (reference heading).

11. Numbers in two-part headings are placed after letters; e.g., Treaty of 1917. However, numbers written out in words in headings retain that form, e.g., Panj-e Ramazan, Event; Shanzdah-e Azar, Bridge.

12. When an article refers to a subject, person, or work for which an independent article exists or will be written in the encyclopedia, an asterisk is placed above it, and it will also be colored/highlighted and clickable, so the user can independently refer to it. Furthermore, this strategy avoids repetition of content and explanations. The strategy of asterisking and coloring is considered because the user might not know an independent article on that subject exists in the encyclopedia; therefore, for famous people and subjects that any user would know have an independent article in the Isfahan Encyclopedia, it is avoided unless necessary.

13. Criteria for selecting notables and dignitaries are on three levels: Level 1 (80-100 points), Level 2 (70-80 points), Level 3 (60-70 points):
* Born and died in Isfahan or famous for being Isfahani, even if died outside Isfahan (20 points)
* Having a significant work/creation (10 points)
* Having a work related to Isfahan (20 points)
* Cultural, social, and civilizational impact on the city and its people, both during their lifetime and after (30 points)
* Good reputation, religiosity, and being a credit to Isfahan according to social norms (20 points)
No dedicated article is written for any notable figure who cannot score at least 50 points. Individuals scoring 50-60 points must be reviewed more thoroughly for deletion or retention. In the first three years of the encyclopedia’s compilation, writing Level 1 articles will be prioritized. Maximum word counts: Level 1: 3000 words, Level 2: 1500 words, Level 3: 1000 words.
* Brief biographies of senior martyrs of the Iraq-Iran War (September 1980-August 1988), based on their rank, will be included under the headings of operations or names of divisions (Army and Revolutionary Guards). Only the names of ordinary war martyrs will be mentioned under these articles. Other Isfahani martyrs who served Islam and Iran will have independent articles.

14. In the field of various sciences related to Isfahan, first and second-level books and journals will have independent articles.
* Level 1: Works that are distinguished among similar books and journals in one or more aspects; criteria include: antiquity of the book, attention from scholars through citations, marginalia, and commentaries, being a textbook in a period, translated into another language, playing a role in transmitting knowledge about Isfahan.
* Level 2: Influential works whose names have become more famous than their author or editor, whose author is essentially unknown, or where there is disagreement about the author.
Other books, pamphlets, and journals will be introduced under the article for the relevant person and will not have independent articles.

15. An article will be written for each major (mother) industry. The encyclopedia management seeks their material and moral support (information related to these centers) and expects them to pay an annual subscription fee after the article is published. Non-major industries and factories, including recreational service centers and hotels, provided they have 30 years of continuous and effective activity and have created jobs for at least 50 people, can have an article by paying a composition fee and annual subscription. Maximum word count for major industries is 2000 words, for non-major industries 1000 words.
* If a workshop or recreational service center has created jobs for 100 people, the 30-year experience condition is reduced to five years.

16. Articles will be written about all major seminaries (Hawza) and major universities, and the encyclopedia management will seek their material and moral support (information related to these centers). Non-major seminaries and universities, cultural institutions (religious and non-religious) will have articles provided they have 30 years of continuous and effective activity. Maximum word count for major seminaries/universities is 3000 words, for others 1500 words.

17. Encyclopedia articles will initially be published only online. In the second step (unspecified future), they will also be published in physical form if necessary. The official website address of the encyclopedia in Persian, Arabic, and English is: www.isfahanica.org. For domestic (Iranian) advertising, this domain is also used: www.isfahanica.ir.

18. Content management of the website is the responsibility of the Scientific Deputy, and technical affairs are the responsibility of the Executive Deputy. All institutions participating in article production will follow the directives of the Scientific Deputy regarding structure, content, and compilation method. Maintaining the quality and scientific and global standards of the encyclopedia is the responsibility of the Scientific Deputy and the managers of the academic groups under him.

19. The encyclopedia does not include biographies of contemporary living persons, except under the headings of industries, seminaries, universities, job and vocational production centers. In these headings, a very brief biography (maximum 400 words) of their previous and current managers will be included.

20. The Isfahan Encyclopedia, while preserving the moral rights of authors, uses articles from previously published encyclopedias and dictionaries in Iran and the world and is not based on repetition; with the explanation that to adhere to clause 3 (focus on Isfahan), the content of those articles may be quoted with some summarization and adaptation. In such cases, this summarization and adaptation is indicated at the end of the article under the title “Revised and edited in the Isfahan Encyclopedia”.
* Some of these encyclopedias include:
* Encyclopaedia Islamica (Dāneshnāme-ye Jahān-e Eslām)
* The Great Islamic Encyclopedia (Dāyerat-ol-Maāref-e Bozorg-e Eslāmi)
* Takhte Fulad Encyclopedia (Dāneshnāme-ye Takht-e Foolād)
* Encyclopædia Iranica
* Three editions of the Encyclopaedia of Islam (Leiden, Netherlands)
* Encyclopedia of Persian Language and Literature (Dāneshnāme-ye Zabān va Adab-e Fārsī)
* Encyclopedia of Iranian Peoples’ Culture (Dāneshnāme-ye Farhang-e Mardom-e Irān)
* Encyclopedia of Art (Dāneshnāme-ye Honar)

21. All material and moral rights of the articles belong to the Encyclopedia Institution. Use of its content is only permitted with attribution.