"You have been shown, if you only care to see; you have been advised if you care to take advantage of advice; you have been told if you care to listen to good counsels." Hazrath Ali (a.s.)
Alawism
a semah performance in Alawism
Alawism is a sectarian of Shiite Islam. Alawi literally means "the follower of Hazrath Ali". Hazrath Ali was the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad, also he was very close to the Prophet from his younger ages and according to his followers Ali was first to be Caliph after the Prophet and Imamet (leading in Islam) comes from his lineage.Beliefs' and rituals' soul based on 12 Imams, Ahl al-Bayt(Mohammad's Households) and Union of Entity. Alawi worshipping centre are called as Cemevi. And the idea is Allah the One who is within everything including humankind. Alawism is also fed from Islamic Sufism, the aim is inspiring the God's Love to human and live with Quran but not symbolically by living it (Batıniyya).The God has found himself in the human's heart and the human became eternal thereof. Inter alia, there is no any seperation while praying between men and women, they pray in their own language, they praise the God with Islamic music and perform semah ( whirling in the name of God), these all performances named as Cem. The goal of life is to become The Perfect Human Being the person who has reached the God. To reach Him, it is believed, there are 40 ranks and after the person becomes a true company of the God. Thereby 40 is an important number in Islam as it is in Christianity. So with these brief knowledge we can start our story. The most common Alawi teachings of spreaded in Bulgaria; Bekhtashi Order, Qizilbash and Babai Order.
Ak Yazili Baba Tekke(Dervish Lodge) The first question comes to your mind probably Where is it? or What's the link with Varna? When we ask Alawis, Where is the post of Ak Yazili Baba? The answer emerges "...in the north of Varna near Batovo." Today it is Obrochishte, however the region which reaches Obrochishte once called as Varna during the Ottoman Era. The most because of Varna was the biggest settlement on the coastal area. During the conquest of Balkans and Rumelia, the Ottomans minded conquest of Lands and conquest of Religion. With the great warriors they occupied a very large region in the Balkans, in XIV.century where the majority of locals were Orthodox Christians. Somehow they should have got the trust of people. As it can be understood it was, disturbing for the Orthodexes to live under a Islamic Empire. And it was difficult to hold these lands for centuries for the Sultan. Think about it, you conquer a foreign land and you assign a governor to there. How can you assure yourself that the governor or the locals ,who are non-muslims, will not betray you while you're sitting on the throne in the Capital city? What did the Ottomans do then? There are many methods and ways that they proceeded. Firstly they decreased the tax which attracted to locals much, because it was an option to stay calm if it was less then that they had paid to former state. Secondly they sent Turkish-Muslim colonies to effect and convert locals by living with them. Third common way was to send Erens or Alims to directly convert them like European missionaries. These Erens and Alims were well educated and brought up with the understanding of Islamic life in Anatolia in Madrasahs or in Dervish Lodges. From the half of the XV.century Erens,Alims were sent by Sultan.Then the first arrivals left their posts to persons who they have chosen or to their sons.
The Tekke of Ak Yazılı Baba was built by Ghazi Mihaloğulları (a noble family in the Empire) whose grand father was a Byzantine governor converted to Islam. We got the first informations about the Tekke from Evliya Çelebi, the Turkish traveler and historian. He describes the architecture and inside decorations thoroughly;" The tomb and the lodge was built from symmetrical cut stone in accordance with classical Turkish architecture style. In both of them 7 number is stressed as architectural way. The tomb has a beautiful enterance with a dome, passed from a arched gate. The building of the tomb was built as 7 cornered. Not far from the tomb, there is again 7 cornered building but it is the lodge. There is a house roofed with lead. The ceiling of the house engraved with patterns. And a chandelier with 300 candles, was hung on the ceiling. Under the chandelier there is small fountain just in the middle of marbled room." So we understand from his describings the lodge was one of the oldest and the most important building dedicated in Rumelia.According to Çelebi's notes Ak Yazılı Baba lived more or less 100 years. End of XV. century Babai Order arrived in Rumelia with Otman Baba, after the arrival of Bekhtashi Order with Balım Sultan who was born in Dimotheka,Greece and many other Alims and Erens. The Babai Order established and spreaded from northern Rumelia. In Alawism and Sufism the spiritual leaders are called as Pole or Pole of the Time and the their post is named as Polarity. Metaphoric explanations and approches are very common in these teachings, For instance Love of God defined as Wine of Love used in poems, stories. |
Thus Ak Yazili Baba, became popular among Bulgarians as well. Ak Yazili stated to his disciples ; “We will not forbid wine, will not push women to wear burqa, will not forbid people to light a candle in the lodge! Here these people has forced to convert Islam. We will let Christians to convert and become a follower Hazrath Ali, by willingly. To increase our companions, we will marry with them and bring up children. These people are waiting for a great person who is Demir Baba and we will give him to them. He is a son of a dervish baba and will be born by a native noble girl. Demir Baba will inherit all glory of us and will elevate our names!" One day Ak Yazili Baba calls Huseyin Ghazi : -Come, O Hadji! and he says -Order my Sultan! -O Hadji! Do you hear the angel that calls you from the sky? -No, I do not hear my Sultan. What is she crying? -She cries you to find your spouse and marry with her! and added, -Hadji, the time has come you should settle down anymore. -Oh! How it is possible your highness? I am an elder man and I can not bear such responsibility and I can not leave you! Courage my Sultan!. He says and prostrates in front of him. Ak Yazili: - O Hadji! Now you are telling me that you will not obey me? - Accepted father, How can I dare? My head is for you on the path.Yet my fear is, leave you for a joy of the world. Still I can not oppose my Sultan's order! Then other dervishes in the lodge prepared a table and celebrate Huseyin Ghazi, after they sent him to Gökçesu Lodge(today in Sinia Voda,Razgrad) with praising him. Dervishes of Gökçesu welcomed him and cried to him with good wishes.Huseyin Ghazi delivered Ak Yazili Baba's salut to Turan Halife, the sage of Gökçesu Lodge. Thereupon Turhan Halife engaged his daughter Zahide with Huseyin Ghazi and Ak Yazili Baba ordered to start wedding preparations. They all came to Kovancılar (today Pchelina) and all known ones were invited to the wedding ; Sheikh Zati Efedi and Tomb keeper Abdi Dede, Mayor of Siva(today Svilengrad) Mustafa Efendi and Hadji Kademli Baba, the dervishes of Mümin Baba, Yemini Efendi the Hafiz, Ahmet Baba the scout of Dede-i Baba, the protector of Tekke, Dervish the scout of Karakudjak, the scout of Erz Baba, the scout of Yahshi Baba, Kız Ana Sultan, Kebir, Mohammad the Deaf, the scout of Kodja Dogan Dikeli Huseyin gathered in Gerilovo in the house of Dervish Mehmet. |
The First Pole Otman Baba invites, Ak Yazılı Baba to his lodge and for 2 years, he teaches him the delicacies of Alawism then Otman Baba reaches the mercy of God.(1477-78) Otman Baba's last word was "Do not cry after me, because I am not dying, I shall live all the time on the earth and in the sky." Ak Yazılı Baba was known as a scholar of Hadji Bekhtashi and probably came to Rumelia from Karaman,Turkey or they also say he immigrated from Khorasan,Iran. The transfering the post to someone is actually called as Musahiplik different from direct line. Musahiplik means fellowship on the path of God. And If a Pole decides to make a musahiplik with a person that he has chosen, his lineage goes from the person. As Alawis supports the Musahiplik between Hazrath Ali and Prophet Mohammad. Thereon the candidate Pole has to fulfill some tasks. Such as completes 12 Services*, sacrifices a ram to God and then gets the acknowledgement of the Pole, if he is married he has to get permission of his wife, lastly he gets approval of public. Then He becomes the new Pole of Time.And Ak Yazili Baba was the new Pole anymore. Huseyin Ghazi (known as Hadji Dede also) helps Ak Yazılı in the Lodge. Huseyin Ghazi was one of the sayyids** in those times. Therewithal Huseyin Ghazi was the father of Demir Baba. It is said that Akyazılı Baba had 2000 sheeps in his barn. And everyday they sacrifice 3 of them to treat guests, and host them just for 3 days.(according to tradition guests are hosted just for 3 days) There was an enormous interest to the lodge, and tens of people visit the lodge everday. The most known miracle of Ak Yazili Baba was healing the people who were suffered from malaria. It was noted, the malaria was so widespread in the region and without discriminating anyone muslim or non-muslim, was cured in the lodge.
|
During the preparations Kademli Baba who was the head of Yeni Zagra Tekke(today Nova Zagora) hosted and treated all guest with his efforts but he couldn't join the group on the way to Kovancılar. He was ordered by the Sultan Suleiman to Edirne(former Adrianople). Haseki*** Hürrem( famous as Roxelana) was badly ill. Servants of Haseki advised Kademli Baba for treatment. After the necessary treatment to the Haseki, she got well. Kademli Baba wanted to leave the palace but it depended on the Sultan's will. Kademli Baba explained his excuse for leaving however the Sultan Suleiman reproached Ak Yazili Baba that He did not call Sultan to the wedding.Then Suleiman let Kademli to go and deliver his disturbance to Ak Yazili with sending 5 camels and 5 purse of golden. Later on Ak Yazili asked for forgiveness and the Sultan joined the wedding. The Sultan stayed in the wedding for 3 days and introduced himself as Aga of Harem but just Ak Yazili and Kademli Baba knew him. He watched the wrestlings and ridings.It is also known that Sultan Suleiman was serving under Gulsheni Order, in Sufism.The wedding continued for 7 days, 7 nights.Ak Yazili and all other guests left Kovancılar and returned back to their posts. After awhile pregnancy of Zahide was heard and prayed for her until the baby comes.
Demir Baba came to world in the holy month Ramadan in 1530. His arrival was celebrated for days and Ak Yazili Baba prayed for him. Ak Yazili taught every knowledge and secrets to him and when Demir was ready to be a Pole, He left the world. May God's peace be upon them. Demir Baba established his own lodge in Ludogorie/Deliorman region, in the town of Kemaller(today Isperih). And He maintained the religion in Rumelia after Ak Yazili Baba. After Demir Baba's death, He was buried near the lodge. By 1925 It was claimed that the tomb belong to the King Asparuh Han and the grave was opened, investegated then it was seen that the corpse burried according to Islamic manner afterwards the judge decided the tomb belong to Demir Baba and preserved so. The Lodge of Demir Baba was proclaimed a monument of culture of local importance in 1970 by the government of Bulgaria. The Tekke of Ak Yazili Baba was sabotaged by Russians during the Siege of Varna.(1828) Following the Tekke was not re-built again but a small wooden house added near the tomb of Ak Yazili Baba. In 1872 Felix Kanitz, the Austrian traveler and writer, visited the lodge and noted that there were permanent 18 dervishes and 8 temporary ones lived in under the leading of Sheikh Halil Baba. Then towards years it was deserted. During the World War I the region was conquered by Romania and preserved as its origin but already the lodge was declining. In World War II Bulgaria re-occupied the region and enviroment of the lodge populated by Orthodox Christians. Dissappointingly the lodge was introduced to Bulgarians as a post of St.Athanasius and still so. Today it is possible to see the ruins of the lodge in Obrochishte. Besides that %18 of Turkish population living in Bulgaria are Alawi Muslim. Compiled and Written By Kigarian Copyright © 2013-Varna1444 All Rights Reserved |
FootNotes
*12 Services: There are twelve services (Turkish: oniki hizmet) performed by attendees of the cem.
**Sayyid : The term Sayyid meaning aster, not mister, as the Holy messenger said my two grandsons Hasan and Husain are Sayyids meaning they are masters of the youth in the heavens. Also Sayyid name is the title of the noble muslim family.
***Haseki : was the title of a concubine of the Ottoman Sultan who gave birth to a şehzade (prince); thus meaning Mother of a Prince
*12 Services: There are twelve services (Turkish: oniki hizmet) performed by attendees of the cem.
- Mürşid or Dede: This is the leader of the Cem who represents Muhammad and Ali. The Dede receives confession from the attendees at the beginning of the ceremony. He also leads funerals, Müsahiplik, marriage ceremonies and circumcisions. The status of Dede is hereditary and he must be a descendant of Ali and Fatima.
- Rehber "Guide": This position represents Husayn. The Rehber is a guide to the faithful and works closely with the Dede in the community.
- Gözcü: This position represents Abu Dharr al-Ghifari. S/he is the assistant to the Rehber. S/he is the Cem keeper responsible for keeping the faithful calm.
- Çerağcı: This position represents Jabir ibn Abd-Allah and s/he is the light-keeper responsible for maintaining the light traditionally given by a lamp or candles.
- Zakir: This position represents Bilal ibn al-Harith. S/he plays the bağlama and recites songs and prayers.
- Süpürgeci: This position represents Salman the Persian. S/he is responsible for cleaning the Cemevi hall and symbolically sweeping the carpets during the Cem.
- Meydancı: This position represents Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman.
- Niyazcı: this position represents Muhammad ibn Maslamah. S/he is responsible for distributing the sacred meal.
- İbrikçi: this position represents Kamber. S/he is responsible for washing the hands of the attendees.
- Kapıcı: this position represents Ghulam Kaysan. S/he is responsible for calling the faithful to the Cem.
- Peyikçi: this position represents Amri Ayyari.
- Sakacı: represents Ammar ibn Yasir. Responsible for the distribution of water, sherbet, milk etc.
**Sayyid : The term Sayyid meaning aster, not mister, as the Holy messenger said my two grandsons Hasan and Husain are Sayyids meaning they are masters of the youth in the heavens. Also Sayyid name is the title of the noble muslim family.
***Haseki : was the title of a concubine of the Ottoman Sultan who gave birth to a şehzade (prince); thus meaning Mother of a Prince
"Learn from your mistakes and be knowledgeable,
Don't look for faults in others,
Look at 73 different people in the same way,
God loves and created them all, so don't say anything against them."
from a traditional Alawi song Nefes
Don't look for faults in others,
Look at 73 different people in the same way,
God loves and created them all, so don't say anything against them."
from a traditional Alawi song Nefes
Ak Yazili Baba Tekke
Bibliography
The photos of Ak Yazili Baba Tekke borrowed from http://www.vagabond-bg.com A Guide to Ottoman Bulgaria
Alawism http://en.wikipedia.org
Detailed information About Ak Yazili Baba from http://www.cemvakfi.org.tr / Turkish Cem Foundation
http://www.huseyingazi.org.tr / Huseyin Ghazi Foundation
Story of Demir Baba borrowed and translated from http://www.hakkibaba.com
The Russians in Rumelia 1828 http://archive.org/stream/russiansinbulga02gordgoog#page/n24/mode/2up
The Alawi Lodges in Bulgaria by Veysel Bayram http://ajansbhaner.blogspot.com/2012/09/bulgaristanda-alevi-tekkeleri.html
Evliya Çelebi's Travel Book-Rumelia http://www.tarihbilinci.com
Terminology of Alawi Bekhtashi Order http://www.zulfikar.net
The photos of Ak Yazili Baba Tekke borrowed from http://www.vagabond-bg.com A Guide to Ottoman Bulgaria
Alawism http://en.wikipedia.org
Detailed information About Ak Yazili Baba from http://www.cemvakfi.org.tr / Turkish Cem Foundation
http://www.huseyingazi.org.tr / Huseyin Ghazi Foundation
Story of Demir Baba borrowed and translated from http://www.hakkibaba.com
The Russians in Rumelia 1828 http://archive.org/stream/russiansinbulga02gordgoog#page/n24/mode/2up
The Alawi Lodges in Bulgaria by Veysel Bayram http://ajansbhaner.blogspot.com/2012/09/bulgaristanda-alevi-tekkeleri.html
Evliya Çelebi's Travel Book-Rumelia http://www.tarihbilinci.com
Terminology of Alawi Bekhtashi Order http://www.zulfikar.net