OLMASA MEKTUBUN... FAZLULLAH’IN TORUNUNUN ŞAHRUH DÖNEMİNDE YAŞADIKLARI

Abstract

One of the most important documents in Hurufi history is a letter known as Saḥīfat al-Istikhlās sent by Amīr Ghiyāth al-Dīn to Mawlānā Ḥasan, a Hurufi darwish. Aḥmad-i Lur attempted to assasinate Shāhrukh, the ruler of the Timurid Empire, in 830/1427. Aḥmad-i Lur was killed on the spot and because of the lettrist books found in his room and the people he met, it was concluded that Aḥmad-i Lur was a Hurufi. Two years later Faḍlallah's grandson Amīr Nūr-Allah and Faḍlallah's caliph ʿAlī al-Aʿlā's nephew Amīr Ghiyāth al-Dīn, considered as the instigators of the assassination were arrested, interrogated, imprisoned and finally escaped from the dungeon. This letter which has a unique copy, describes all these processes in detail. In the letter, the views of the administrators and the scholars of the Timurid period towards Hurufis, and some relations of the Hurufis with Timurids and Qaraqoyunlus are clearly reflected. In addition, it shows that the Timurid rulers and administrators had had very limited knowledge regarding Hurufism. In addition to the historical records of this letter, in which the defendants describe a trial process in the Timurid Empire of the 15th century, it also provides some important information on Hurufi doctrine, such as the jurisprudential sect of Faḍlallah and his family, the difference between them and the followers of Vaḥdat al-Vujūd. This article first of all explains the historical background of assasination attempt and interrogation process. It tries as well to create a chronology relying on the data of the letter. The historical and doctrinal importance of this letter was analysed in detail in this article. Keywords: Hurufism, Saḥīfat al-Istikhlās, Amīr Nūr-Allah, Amīr Ghiyāth al-Dīn, Shāhrukh, Ulugh Bey.