The Fate of a Religious Order From its Abolition to its Revival: The Liquidation of the Bektashi Order by the Ottoman State

Abstract

Bektashism is a syncretic sect founded in the 13th century by the disciples of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, one of the saints of Khorasan, and institutionalized by Balım Sultan in the 16th century. Although Bektashism has Sufi movements such as Yesevi, Kalenderi, Melami, Haydari, Vefai, it is known that the sect is also influenced by Hurufism. The most characteristic feature of Bektashism, which is based on love and tolerance, is the witty expressions of its followers and the unifying aspect based on pity and compassion. Despite its conflict with the Sunni Islamic tradition, Bektashism managed to establish good relations with the Ottoman bureaucracy, and despite the restrictions of Alevism based on lineage, Bektashism became a legitimate institution to which everyone could subscribe. These positive relations continued until the abolition of the Janissary Corps, and members of the order always had a privileged status in the Ottoman bureaucracy.

This article examines the methods used by the Ottoman Empire when abolishing Bektashism. In the introductory part of the article, which consists of an introduction and three subheadings, a conceptual framework about Bektashism is drawn and a panoramic and chronological evaluation of the sect's relations with the Ottoman Empire is made, and in the subheadings the methods used in the liquidation of the sect are examined.