Bir Türkmen Babasından Bektaşi Babasına Dönüşümün Hikâyesi: Halifet Baba Zaviyesi

Abstract

Dervishes of Heterodox sects such as Yasawiyya, Haydariyya and Kalenderiyya migrated to Anatolia from the thirteenth century. These people, who were kind of propagandists, found a suitable ground in Anatolia, not in cities, but in villages and among nomads. Turkmen “baba” (father) and dervishes, belonging to Heterodox groups, settled in western Anatolia, especially on the Byzantine border, and established their zawiyas. Because these dervishes, who also have warrior identities, have had the opportunity to propagate jihad and Islam in this border region. As they were seen by the Turkish sultans as colonizers who would make the military conquest permanent in the region, the zawiyas they opened were supported by waqfs. In western Anatolia, where nomadic and semi-settled Turkmen communities were heavily inhabited, Turkmen dervishes became figures who shaped the spiritual world of the communities and warmed them to Islam. Halifet Baba Zawiya was built in the village of Arabhisar, which was founded on top of the ancient city of Alabanda after the Turkish raids. Stones from the ruins of an ancient Christian temple were also used in its construction. These zawiya was part of the process of The Turkification and Islamization of the Anatolian lands. During the Ottoman period, his primary name was forgotten, and he became known as Baba Sultan. Currently, it is one of the sacred temples visited by the Alawites and is known as the Arab Dede. In this study, the historical transformation of the Halifet Baba Zawiya will be emphasized in accordance with the Ottoman archival records. The adventure of turning from a Christian cult to an Islamic cult and then into a place considered sacred by the Bektashis and Alawites will be described.