Anadolu’da Esnaf Dervişliği: Ahîlik

Abstract

The religious orders are sufistic institutions voluntary doing activity in almost every part of the Islamic society. They made important contributions to the coverse of Islamic cultural heritage and teaching of its moral values. Thanks to the versatile activities, the Muslims had protected our religion in every part of life. One of these Sufustic institutions is the Ahi-Order which was established in Anatolia as an organization of tradesmen. The Ahi-Order Organization was generally associated with “Turkish Islamic guild” have a corporate identity at the period of Abbasid Khalif Nasser Lidinillah. Thus, it is believed that the Anatollian Ahi- Order developed as a “Turkish-Islamic guild” movement shaped by the “Turkish- Islamic guild Organization.” This movement has turned to a concious educated artisan dervish which settled at the center of economic life in Anatolia. The Anatolian Ahi-Order emerged in the last years of the Seljuk State. During the political vacuum that emerged with the occupation of Anatolia by the Mongols, the Ahis contributed to the restoration of public order with the local governments they formed. These experiences had positive reflections on the social sphere in the founding years of the Ottoman Empire. With this respect Ahis took on a mission that went beyond the structure of religious order in the economic life of Anatolia. Ahis who prepared the physical infrastructure necessary for the economic activities of their members had many mosques and madrasas built for worship and education. Thus, they supported scientific and sufustic education along with vocational education. The Ahis revived many professions which were weakened in Ottoman society. The Ahis, who did not allow unfair profit, black market and opportunism, increased an important values to the social life of Anatolia. In this manner, the risks of conflict between social segments have been eliminated with the economic inequalities in social life. They have been helped both its own members and needful people with many foundations and charity funds. By this means, they served as an exemplary dervish community in many areas such as production and economy, social solidarity, morality and education, protection of human and Islamic values in Anatolia. In this article, it has been examined that he historical and sufustic infrastructure of the artisan dervish, which was formed under the name of the Ahi-Order in Anatolia, and its contribution to the Anatolian people and wisdom.