Sufiyye

Abstract

Anatolia is a geography that has been home to many civilizations throughout history and has been enriched by the religious, cultural, economic, political and social structures of these civilizations. The moral and social structures developed by Islamic civilization are the basic institutions that regulate the individual's inner world and social relations. In this context, the Sufi and Ahi traditions that developed in Anatolia stand out as structures based on both the purification of the individual and the order of society. These two traditions, nourished by different roots, adopted common moral principles and left deep traces on the character of Anatolian people. Sufism and Ahīlik (a socio-economic and cultural system) have been influential in shaping the religious and social structure and have played an important role in the construction of the moral and social fabric of society and individuals. Sufism is a spiritual education path that aims to bring the individual closer to Allah by struggling with his/her ego. Ahīlik is a system based on professional and social solidarity and ethics in practical life.
Having religious-social, economic, and moral dimensions, Ahīlik is an organization that has been effective in Anatolia for about 500 years since the 13th century. It had a significant impact on shaping Anatolia’s social life. Having a significant contribution to the development of our history of culture and civilization with its artisan institutions and lodges, Ahīlik has set an example for many artisan organizations by integrating spiritual upbringing and business ethics in its lodges that spread to the remotest places and mountain tops of Anatolia. Ahi lodges welcomed all kinds of guests in times of distress and offered accommodation to travelers at a time when roads were unsafe and means of transportation were primitive. The Ahis took the Qur'an and the Sunnah as their guide in many aspects of human life, from the rules of organization in daily life to table manners and work rules in the workplace. The theoretical and practical structure of this organization, which is effective in social and economic fields in addition to moral, military, and political structures, overlaps with many concepts and practices in Sufi thought. Although Ahīlik appears to be a professional organization, it is largely Sufi in nature in terms of the zawiyas it established and the moral principles it established. Sufism, as it is known, is a scientific discipline that aims to discipline the human soul. The theoretical thought of Sufism is reflected in practical life through tariqas. In this sense, Ahīlik and Sufism adopted many common methods of moral discipline. In particular, Sufi concepts such as self-discipline, generosity, etiquette, asceticism, abstinence, conviction, and consent stand out as common elements. In our study, we will analyze the background in the formation of the Ahi tradition and the connection of the moral and social principles of this organization with Sufism in a comparative manner.