A Review of the Role and Function of Sufi Orders in the Ottoman Empire, with Emphasis on Baktashid Order

The Ottoman Emirate, one of the several emirates in Anatolia, underwent dramatic developments in the course of change into an Islamic empire and consolidated and maintained its power. This course of change was influenced by two factors. One of the important factors of consolidating and preserving Ottoman Sultan's power was the special attention given to dervishes and Sufi orders, especially Baktashid order, and their use of power. Baktashid order, which is attributed to Hajj Baktash Wali, is one of the important and influential orders in the history of the Ottoman Empire and its origin traces back to the Asia Minor in the seventh century. This order which came to existence on the basis of Babaiyyeh movement influenced the Ottoman Sultans through building relations with Janissary military organization and played a key role in the political and religious developments of the Ottoman Empire over several centuries. Therefore, the present paper tries to study the reasons behind the special attention given by Ottoman Sultan's to Sufi orders, especially Baktashid order, the origin of its formation, and how it entered into and effected the political and religious relations of the Ottoman Empire.