FROM SURVIVAL TO REVIVAL: TRANSFORMATION OF A KHALIDI COMMUNITY IN TURKEY (1925-1970) (original) (raw)

This thesis explores the transformation of a specific Khalidi community in Turkey by examining various developments from 1925, when an official ban was imposed on Sufism until 1970 when several Sufi groups regained visibility. Despite the strict anti-Sufism policies in the first decades of the early Turkish Republic, many Khalidi communities not only survived but also grew stronger, becoming highly visible and widespread Islamic communities. While most of these communities embraced modernity by adopting various modern tools, such as media, businesses, and schools, the İsmailağa community, the focus of this thesis, chose a fundamentally different path. They rejected the use of technological devices, refused to attend public schools, insisted on a specific attire, and, most importantly, turned Sufism into an integral part of madrasa tradition. Still, this thesis argues that this community has also evolved into a modern one, deviating from its traditional Khalidi identity by utilizing Sufism primarily as a tool to promote Islamic primordialism and to establish a buffer within secular Turkey. By delving into the history of Khalidiyya in the nineteenth century, one could gain insights into how the Order transformed into a revivalist structure, challenging the Western penetration of the Muslim world. However, this historical context alone cannot fully explain the further transformation and increased politicization of the Khalidi communities in the post-Republic era. Therefore, this paper goes deeper into the reconstruction of these communities and their reactions to Turkey’s modernization and secularization efforts. The findings of this study indicate that while the Khalidi communities partly preserved their ties to the past, they flourished as products of their own time. Their customs, rituals, and understanding of Sufism were reshaped and reinvented in response to changing political conditions, particularly after 1946 when state pressure on religion eased. Additionally, this thesis reveals the ambivalence of state policies towards religion played a significant role in the flourishing of such communities. In conclusion, the transformation of Khalidi communities from Sufism-derived piety to Sufism-inspired Islamic communities was the result of complex interactions among various factors.