Zawiyas and Tekkes in the Ottoman State until the Late 19th Century

Abstract

Abstract

This study examines zawiyas and tekkes in the Ottoman Empire from a socio-historical perspective, aiming to highlight their significance as institutions that played an active role in society. Their function was not confined to a narrow religious framework; rather, they performed multiple roles that included education, charitable work, and alleviating the burdens of vulnerable groups. They also contributed to building social relationships based on cooperation and cohesion among different segments of society, which gave them a clear influence on daily life in Ottoman cities and provinces. The study further explores the structural organization of Sufi orders and how they were able to develop within an institutional framework connected to both society and the state, as well as the impact of this organization on enhancing social stability, particularly in areas where direct state administrative presence was limited. It also traces the development of these institutions over time, demonstrating their ability to adapt to the transformations of the nineteenth century, both intellectually and in terms of their social functions.

In contrast, the study discusses the decline that affected some zawiyas and tekkes in the later stages of the Ottoman Empire, as their performance weakened and their role diminished due to a number of internal and external factors, including intellectual stagnation and poor management of resources, in addition to the transformation of some of these institutions into entities with limited influence. This shift was reflected in their reduced standing within society. Accordingly, the study presents zawiyas and tekkes as a historical experience that went through phases of effectiveness and influence, followed by a relative decline, offering a broader understanding of the nature of these institutions and their role within the wider social and historical transformations of the Ottoman Empire.