The Spritual place of Imam Ali(AS) in Alevi-Bektashi order: Beliefs and Customs

Subject Areas : Sufism

Fahimeh Mokhber Dezfouli ^{1 *}

1 -

Received: 2025-01-26 Accepted : 2025-04-05 Published : 2025-05-27

Keywords: Alevi-Bektashi, Imam Ali, Sufism, Anatolia, Turkey Alevism,

Abstract :

The personality and spiritual situation of Imam Ali (AS) have always been the focus of attention and praise from Muslims of all religious orientations; but from the perspective of Sufism, he has been especially honored and revered. The abundance of historical narrations in praise of his special personality, which has always been a manifestation of piety and adherence to moral virtues, has led to the formation of extravagant beliefs that are especially evident in some Sufi orders. The Alevi Bektashis , like other Sufi orders, pay special respect to Imam Ali (AS), but his spiritual position among them is somewhat different from that of other Sufi orders. The purpose of this research is to analyze the situation of Imam Ali (AS) from the perspective of the Alevi Bektashi. What do the Alevi Bektashis believe about Imam Ali (AS)? What is the place of him in their beliefs, rituals and ceremonies? It seems that for a group of the Alevi Bektashis, the spiritual status of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Ali is the same, and sometimes they go further and give him a higher status than the Prophet Muhammad. However in most of their belifs, they are similar to other sufis.

References:


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