Sufism in The Sense of Folk Medicine in Ottoman Society

Abstract

Until the deep-rooted reforms started during the Selim III era, the Ottoman health system was based on the value series of the Seljuk era. The health institutions of the era, named Dârüşşifâ, bimarhâne and timarhâne, were not official state institutions. Still, they were established through the donations of bureaucrats and members of the public. Established in the classical period, the institution of ‘Hekimbaşılık (Chief Physicianship)’ mainly served to organize the health services of the palace and the army. During this period, when the state did not meet the health-related needs of people in Europe and the Ottoman State for an extended amount of time, people's health and treatment requirements were addressed through physicians, surgeons, and foundation hospitals in larger towns. Moving towards rural areas and greater masses, this duty was assumed by sheikhs, hodja, ocaklı, and healers who performed what could be described as traditional medicine or folk medicine. In Turkish communities, the origins of folk medicine date back to Shamanic Kams, who were believed to have supernatural powers in religious and worldly terms. Folks in those times believed that Shamans were men devoted to religion, exorcised evil spirits and had healing abilities. The majority of the population was in this belief. Despite the process of Islamization in the following periods, these beliefs were not forgotten completely but rather continued their existence by being adapted into Islamic beliefs. In this context, Shamans have continued their treatment duties mostly as ocaklı, but they assigned their religious tasks and healing duties to the Islamic guardian cult. This way, Sufis became a significant part of traditional folk medicine in Seljuk and the Ottoman era. Through the lodges and monasteries they established, Sufis integrated into social life in the Ottoman era. They performed countless important tasks for the community and the state, ranging from a settlement of nomads to transportation, accommodation of guests to securing secluded areas, and treatment of numerous psychological and physical diseases. The people strongly believed that Sufis were men of God, miracle workers, and protectors. This belief was foremost important for the acceptance of their healing abilities. As such, members of the public were seeking help from Sufis for all kinds of health issues, including mental problems, stomachaches, headaches, pain in different parts of the body, children’s health problems, infertility and behaviour disorders leading to domestic issues to epidemics. So much so that the curing capabilities of Sufis have sometimes been supported by the state and gained an official status. Hence the purpose of this study is to review the folk medicine aspect of Sufis in the Ottoman historic sphere and to reveal the treatment methods they used for several conditions. The subject has been explained under two main headlines; one consisting of spiritual practices such as prayer, dhikr, nazar, ruqya and shrine visitations, and the other one consisting of apparent practices such as fasting, herbal mixtures, and so on. While conducting this study, chronicles, Sufi works, memoirs of the era, archives and modern studies have been reviewed.