The Saffarids are a Muslim Persianate dynasty from Sistan that rules over parts of eastern Iran, Khorasan, Afghanistan and Balochistan from 861 to 1003.

The dynasty, of Persian origin, is founded by Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar, a native of Sistan and a local ayyar, who works as a coppersmith (ṣaffār) before becoming a warlord.

He seizes control of the Sistan region and begins conquering most of what is now Afghanistan.The Saffarids used their capital Zaranj, which is a city in modern-day Afghanistan, as a base for an aggressive expansion eastwards and westwards.

They first invade the areas south of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan and then overthrow the Persian Tahirid dynasty, annexing Khorasan in 873.

By the time of Ya'qub's death, he has conquered the Kabul Valley, Sindh, Tocharistan, Makran (Balochistan), Kerman, Fars, Khorasan, and nearly reached Baghdad but then had suffered a defeat by the Abbasids.

The Saffarid empire does not last long after Ya'qub's death.

His brother and successor, Amr bin Laith, is defeated at the Battle of Balkh against Ismail Samani in 900.

Amr bin Laith is forced to surrender most of his territories to the new rulers.

The Saffarids are subsequently confined to their heartland of Sistan, with their role reduced to that of vassals of the Samanids and their successors.