Voiced by : Zerrin KAPLAN GÜLSOY
Sound Editor : Mehmet GÜRZOĞLU
Channel Editor : Yüksel GÜLSOY
Description :
This audio book is based on the book written by Dursun Gümüşoğlu and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hamiye Duran; published by Gazi University Turkish Culture and Hadji Bektash Veli Research Institute in 2010. The original name of the book is, “Hazâ Kitâb-ı Velâyetnâme-i Hünkâr Hacı Bektaş Velî” which can shortly be translated as “Hagiography of Hadji Bektash Veli”. For the ease of listening, modern Turkish version of the book was narrated.
The purpose of this audio book is to introduce the biography of Hadji Bektash Veli, who has been accepted as a spiritual leader since the 13th century, to the people of interest. This study does not have any commercial concerns.
Our knowledge of Hadji Bektash Veli's life story until his arrival to Anatolia is very limited. According to Hagiography, his real name is Bektash, but different sources state that his real name is Muhammad and Bektash is a nick name. Anyhow, Anatolian people recognize him as Hadji Bektash.
Although his birth and death dates are not clear, it is known that he was born in Nishapur, which is a city of Khorasan Province in Iran today. After visiting Najaf, Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Aleppo, Elbistan, Sivas, Kırşehir and Kayseri, he came to Sulucakarahöyük, which was a small village of seven houses, and established his tekke there.
Hadji Bektash Veli is a member of Khorasan School spiritually, through Lokman Perende and thus Ahmad Yasawi. His family tree reaches Imam Ali and thus Prophet Muhammad through Imam Musa. According to historical sources, he did not marry and had no children.
13th century was a very painful period for Anatolia. Seljuk Empire was losing power and Anatolia was suffering from Mongol invasion. During this period, the caliphs of Hadji Bektash, raised in his tekke in Sulucakarahöyük, were acting as colonizers for the purpose of spreading the seeds of Turkish Islam and Turkification to Anatolia and Eastern Europe.
The spiritual influence of Hadji Bektash Veli has grown gradually from 13th century till today. He is represented by the Bektashi Order of dervishes at present. Bektashi Order can be briefly described as a Sufi interpretation of Islam. According to Bektashi Order, there is only Allah and nothing else. Quran is the holly book, Muhammad is the Prophet, and Imam Ali is the first link in the chain of Saints. In daily practice, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq’s Sufi interpretations of Islam are accepted as guidelines. Hadji Bektash Veli is the founder and the patron saint of the Order.
Bibliography:
1. Bektaşi Sırrı, Ahmed Rıfkı, prepa. H. Dursun Gümüşoğlu
2. Hünkâr Ansiklopedik Bektaşilik Sözlüğü, A. Yılmaz Soyyer
3. Hünkâr Hacı Bektaş Veli Velayetnamesi, H. Dursun Gümüşoğlu, Hamiye Duran
4. İslam Ansiklopedisi, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli Article