AŞKA SEMAH DÖNMEK

Abstract

Alevism–Bektashism is an expression of the interpretation of Islam by love. Love that forms the very essence of faith has been the most important determiner of the established procedures and pedestals of the Alevi path. Divine love as accepted as unique and genuine among all different orientations of love is sought. While Alevism becomes a path, it connects itself to the Prophet via Hazrat Ali and the ancestry of Ahl al-Bayt. The reason, essence, direction and eventually destination of love have been expressed as “the path of ‘Haqq–Mohammed–Ali’”. Because, according to the Alevi faith, Allah has created the earth, sky and eighteen thousand universes for the love of Mohammed–Ali’s children. It is also accepted that the true faith is possible only with love. Meanings present in the definition of love, such as suffering and pain, are the expected distresses in the pathway to love. On the way, the love related to the world and all things but Allah will be burned by the fire of love and annihilated. Thus, the man will die before his real death and reach the status of a human being. Within this framework, the interpretation of the faith, which is practiced through love, will be examined with reference to the main resources of Alevism–Bektashism. In addition, styles and applications, developed by using the principal resources as basis, will also be taken into consideration and examined.