Sufiyye

Abstract

In this study, the meaning of the Seven-Principled Otman Babalis, the descendants of the Rum Abdals living in the Balkans, building their tombs (shrines) with heptagonal architecture since the 16th century, was analyzed. In the literature, heptagonal architecture is generally explained by emphasizing the Ismaili identity of Otman Babalis. However, this approach struggles to explain why the Ismaili faith was not reflected in the tombs until the 16th century. In this study, the relationship between faith and shrine architecture was evaluated in terms of Turkish religious and political history. In this context, it is discussed how temples and shrines were shaped according to the number of diagonals in the historical process during the pre-Islamic and Islamic eras. As a result, it was observed that the support provided by the Ottoman and Safavid States to the Twelve Imams belief played a significant role in the emergence of the heptagonal architectural style. The dodecagonal tomb architecture, which became widespread with the support of both empires, was perceived as a threat in the Balkans, prompting Otman Babalis to react by protecting their identity through heptagonal architecture. Although there is no obligatory relationship between faith and shrine architecture, the fear of extinction or assimilation threatens the preservation of identity. Heptagonal tomb architecture should probably be seen as a reflection of the identity crisis faced by the Haydari dervishes, a variant of Ismailism, in the Balkans.