Alevites

Alevism or Anatolian Alevism (; tr, Alevilik, ''Anadolu Aleviliği'' or ''Kızılbaşlık''; ; az, Ələvilik) is a local Islamic tradition, whose adherents follow the mystical Alevi Islamic ( ''bāṭenī'') teachings of Haji Bektash Veli, who is supposed to have taught the teachings of Ali and the Twelve Imams. Differing from Sunnism and other Twelver Shia, Alevis have no binding religious dogmas, and teachings are passed on by a spiritual leader. They acknowledge the six articles of faith of Islam, but may differ regarding their interpretation. Adherents of Alevism are found primarily in Turkey and estimates of the percentage of Turkey's population that are Alevi include between 4% and 15%.

Etymology

"Alevi" () is generally explained as referring to Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. The name represents a Turkish form of the word '' ‘Alawi'' ( ar, علوي) "of or pertaining to Ali".

A minority viewpoint is that of the Ishikists, who assert, "Alevi" was derived from "Alev" ("flame" in Turkish) in reference to fire which is extensively used in Alevi rituals. According to them the use of candles is based on Quran chapter 24, verses 35 and 36:

"''God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which there is a lamp, the lamp is encased in a glass, the glass is like a radiant planet, which is lit from a blessed olive tree that is neither of the east nor of the west, its oil nearly gives off light even if not touched by fire. Light upon light, God guides to His light whom He pleases. And God sets forth examples for the people, and God is aware of all things. (Lit is such a Light) in houses, which God has permitted to be raised to honor; for the celebration, in them, of His name: In them is He glorified in the mornings and in the evenings, (again and again).''")

Beliefs

According to scholar Soner Çağaptay, Alevism is a "relatively unstructured interpretation of Islam". Journalist Patrick Kingsley states that for some self-described Alevi, their religion is "simply a cultural identity, rather than a form of worship".

Many teachings are based on an orally transmitted tradition, traditionally kept secret from outsiders (but now widely accessible). Alevis commonly profess the Islamic shahada, but adding "Ali is the ''friend'' of God".

The basis for Alevis' most distinctive beliefs is found in the Buyruks (compiled writings and dialogues of Sheikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili, and other worthies). Also included are hymns ''(nefes)'' by figures such as Shah Ismail or Pir Sultan Abdal, stories of Hajji Bektash and other lore.

The Alevi beliefs among Turkish Alevis and Kurdish Alevis diverge as Kurdish Alevis put more emphasis on Pir Sultan Abdal than Haji Bektash Veli and Kurdish Alevism is rooted more in nature veneration.

God

In Alevi cosmology, God is also called Al-Haqq (the Truth)Hande Sözer ''Managing Invisibility: Dissimulation and Identity Maintenance among Alevi Bulgarian Turks'' BRILL 2014 page 114 or referred to as Allah. God created life, so the created world can reflect His Being.Tord Olsson, Elisabeth Ozdalga, Catharina Raudvere ''Alevi Identity: Cultural, Religious and Social Perspectives'' Tord Olsson, Elisabeth Ozdalga, Catharina Raudvere page 25
Alevis believe in the unity of Allah, Muhammad, and Ali, but this is not a trinity composed of God and the historical figures of Muhammad and Ali. Rather, Muhammad and Ali are representations of Allah's light (and not of Allah himself), being neither independent from God, nor separate characteristics of Him.

In Alevi writings are many references to '' the unity of Muhammad and Ali,'' such as:

The phrase "For the love of Allah-Muhammad-Ali" ''( Hakk-Muhammed-Ali aşkına)'' is common to several Alevi prayers.

Spirits and afterlife

Alevis believe in the immortality of the soul, the literal existence of supernatural beings, including good and bad angels (''melekler''/''şeytanlar''), bad ones as encourager of human's evil desires ('' nefs''), and jinn (''cinler''), as well as the evil eye.

Angels feature in Alevi cosmogony. Although there is no fixed creation narrative among Alevis, it is generally accepted that God created five archangels, who have been invited to the chamber of God. Inside they found a light representing the light of Muhammad and Ali. A recount of the Quranic story, one of the archangels refused to prostrate before the light, arguing, that the light is a created body just like him and therefore inappropriate to worship. He remains at God's service, but rejects the final test and turns back to darkness. From this primordial decline, the devil's enmity towards Adam emerged. (The archangels constitute of the same four archangels as within orthodox Islam. The fifth archangel namely Azazil fell from grace, thus not included among the canonical archangels apart from this story)Alevi Hafızasını Tanımlamak: Geçmiş ve Tarih Arasında. (2016). (n.p.): İletişim Yayınları.

Another story features the archangel Gabriel (''Cebrail''), who is asked by God, who they are. Gabriel answers: "I am I and you are you". Gabriel gets punished for his haughty answer and is sent away, until Ali reveals a secret to him. When God asks him again, he answers: "You are the creator and I am your creation". Afterwards, Gabriel was accepted and introduced to Muhammad and Ali.

Scriptures and prophets

Like Islam, all Alevis acknowledge at least the four scriptures revealed from heaven. Additionally, Alevis don't mind to look to other religious books outside the four major ones as sources for their beliefs including Hadiths, Nahjul Balagha and Buyruks. Alevism also acknowledges the Islamic prophet Mohammed. Unlike Sunnis and Shia, Alevis do not regard interpretations of the Quran today as binding or infallible, since the true meaning the Quran is considered to be taken as a secret by Ali and must be taught by a teacher, who transmits the teachings of Ali (''Buyruk'') to his disciple.

The Twelve Imams

The Twelve Imams are part of another common Alevi belief. Each Imam represents a different aspect of the world. They are realized as twelve services or ''On İki Hizmet'' which are performed by members of the Alevi community. Each Imam is believed to be a reflection of Ali ibn Abu Talib, the first Imam of the Shi'ites, and there are references to the "First Ali" ''(Birinci Ali),'' Imam Hasan the "Second 'Ali" ''(İkinci Ali),'' and so on up to the "Twelfth 'Ali" ''(Onikinci Ali),'' Imam Mehdi. The Twelfth Imam is hidden and represents the Messianic Age.

Plurality

There are two sides to creation, one from a spiritual center to plurality, another from plurality to the spiritual center. Plurality is the separation of pure consciousness from the divine source. It is seen as a curtain alienating creation from the divine source and an illusion which called the '' Zāherī'' or ''exoteric'' side to reality. The hidden or true nature of creation is called the '' bāṭenī'' or the ''esoteric.''

The plurality in nature is attributed to the infinite potential energy of Kull-i Nafs when it takes corporeal form as it descends into being from Allah. During the Cem ceremony, the cantor or ''aşık'' sings:

:"All of us alive or lifeless are from one, this is ineffable, Sultan.
:For to love and to fall in love has been my fate from time immemorial."

This is sung as a reminder that the reason for creation is love, so that the followers may know themselves and each other and that they may love that which they know.

The Perfect human being

Linked to the concept of the Prototypical Human is that of the "Perfect Human Being" ''( Insan-i Kamil).'' Although it is common to refer to Ali and Haji Bektash Veli or the other Alevi saints as manifestations of the perfect human being, the Perfect Human Being is also identified with our true identity as pure consciousness, hence the Qur'anic concept of human beings not having original sin, consciousness being pure and perfect. The human task is to fully realize this state while still in material human form.

The perfect human being is also defined in practical terms, as one who is in full moral control of his or her hands, tongue and loins ''(eline diline beline sahip)''; treats all kinds of people equally ''(yetmiş iki millete aynı gözle bakar)''; and serves the interests of others. One who has achieved this kind of enlightenment is also called ''"eren"'' or ''"münevver" (mūnavvar).''

Interpretation of ''tafsir''

According to ''The President of the Islamic-Alevi Religious Services'' Dede İzzettin Doğan, ''"Alevism"'' is simply a tasawwufī- bāṭenī interpretation ''(tafsir)'' of Islam.

Alevi used to be grouped as ("redheads"), a generic term used by Sunni Muslims in the Ottoman Empire for the various Shia sects from the 15th century. Many other names exist (often for subgroupings), among them Tahtacı "Woodcutters", "Bards" and .

Creed and jurisprudence

Sources differ on how important formal doctrine is among contemporary Alevi. According to scholar Russell Powell there is a tradition of informal "Dede" courts within the Alevi society, but regarding Islamic jurisprudence or ''fiqh'' there has been "little scholarship on Alevi influences" in it.

Other sources put more emphasis on creed and doctrine. Alevīs follow Tasawwufī-Batiniyya aqidah (creed) of Maymūn’al-Qāddāhī according to one source ( Dede İzzettin Doğan)."Muhammad ibn Āliyy’ūl Cillī aqidah" of "Maymūn ibn Abu’l-Qāsim Sulaiman ibn Ahmad ibn at-Tabarānī fiqh" (Sūlaiman Affandy, ''Al-Bākūrat’ūs Sūlaiman’īyyah – Family tree of the Nusayri Tariqat,'' pp. 14–15, Beirut, 1873.) In contrast the Sunni majority of Turkey's population follows Maturidi aqidah of the Hanafi fiqh and Ash'ari aqidah of the Shafi'i fiqh. According to another source, Alevi aqidah ''(creed or theological convictions)'' is based upon a syncretic fiqh system called as ''Batiniyya-Sufism/Ismailism'' which incorporates some sentiments of '' Sevener- Qarmatians,'' originally introduced by ''Abu’l-Khāttāb Muhammad ibn Abu Zaynab al-Asadī'', and later developed by Maymun al-Qāddāh and his son ʿAbd Allāh ibn Maymun, and ''Mu'tazila'' with a strong belief in the Twelve Imams.
* ''"The Alevi-Turks"'' has a unique belief system tracing back to '' Kaysanites'' and ''Khurramites'' which are considered Ghulat Shia Islam by some. According to Turkish scholar Abdülbaki Gölpinarli, the Qizilbash ''(Red-Heads)'' of the 16th century – a religious and political movement in Azerbaijan that helped to establish the Safavid dynasty – were spiritual descendants of the Khurramites.
* ''Among the members of the "Qizilbash-Tariqa"'' who are considered as a sub-sect of the Alevis, two figures firstly '' Abu Muslim Khorasani ,'' who assisted Abbasid Caliphate to beat the Umayyad Caliphate but later eliminated and murdered by Caliph Al-Mansur and secondly ''Babak Khorramdin'' who incited a rebellion against Abbasid Caliphate and consequently was killed by Caliph al-Mu'tasim, are highly respected. This belief provides strong clues about their '' Kaysanites Shia'' and ''Khurramites'' origins. In addition, ''Safaviyya

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