Transformation of Muslim mystical thought in the Ottoman Empire the rise of the Halveti order, 1350-1650

Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-320) and indexes.

Introduction-On the Study of Ottoman Mystical Traditions ---- Part I. The Rise and Spread of the Halveti Order from its Origins through the Twelfth/Eighteenth Century --- Introduction. 1. Early Sufism and the origins of the Halvetî path (ca. 900-1400) --- 2. The Great Expansion: From Regional Organization to Far-Flung Network (ca. 1400-1600) ---- Part II. The Evolution of a Halvetî Sub-Branch: The Life and Career of Saaban- Veli and his Followers in the Kastamonu Region --- Introduction --- 3. Echoes of a distant past: Saban- Veli's early life and conversion to Sufism --- 4. Genesis of a sub-branch: Saban- Veli's struggles in Kastamonu --- 5. An uneven legacy: the succession to Saban- Veli to the end of the tenth/sixteenth century ---- Part III. Defending the Cult of Saints in Eleventh/Seventeenth-Century Kastamonu: Transforming the Sa'baniyye Order under 'Omer el-Fu'adi --- Introduction --- 6. 'Omer el-Fu'adi as Sufi aspirant and haigographer: the road to Sa'baniyye succession --- 7. Inscribing the Sa'baniyye order onto Kastamonu's landscape --- 8. The political and doctrinal legacy of 'Omer el-Fu'adi ---- Conclusion What can the Sa'baniyye Teach Us About Transitions in the Early Modern Period of World History?

"One of more poorly understood aspects of the Ottoman Empire has been the flourishing of Sufi mysticism under its auspices. This study tracks the evolution of the Halvetî order from its modest origins in medieval Azerbaijan to the emergence of the influential Sabaniyye, whose range once extended throughout the Empire. By carefully reconstructing the lives of formerly obscure figures in the history of the order, a complex picture emerges of the connections among Halvetî groups, the state, and society. Even more important, since the Sa'baniyye grew out of the towns and villages of the northern Anatolian mountains rather than the major urban centres, this work brings a unique perspective to the lives, work, and worship of Ottoman subjects outside of the major urban centres of the Empire. Along the way, the study sheds light on less-visible actors, such as women and artisans, and challenges generalizations about the activities and strategies of Ottoman mystics." -- Book jacket.