SOCIO-POLITICAL TURBULENCE OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE : RECONSIDERING SUFI AND KADIZADELI HOSTILITY IN 17 TH CENTURY

The fierce hostility that happened between the Kadizadelis and the Sufis during the 17th century of the Ottoman Empire is not the new issue in Islamic civilization discourses. During this period, the Empire suffered from massive decadences in almost all sectors. Kadizadelis believed that such phenomenon did not come out of the void. They insisted that the crux of the problem was primarily laid in the heresies and religious innovations (bid‘ah) that were promoted largely by the Sufis. Embarking from this suspicion and anxiety, they initiated propagandas in which they aimed to bring back people to re-embracement of the primordial teachings of Islam. Nevertheless, many historians and scholars have doubted Kadizadelis attempts. They suspected that there were other non-religious motives that stirred their revival agendas. This paper presents an analysis that aims to challenge the commonly believed notion in which the Sufis and the Kadizadelis were totally adversarial.


Introduction
THE OTTOMAN is among the greatest empire ever established within the historical sequence of human civilization.It conquered a vast region of the world's land and dominated a large territory of the seas.Nevertheless, by the 17 th century, the Ottoman was already on the verge of collapse.Disorder governmental administration, state-economy inflation, morality decline, and religious deviation, altogether scraped the body of the empire, leaving a rotten structure waiting for falling. 1 Scholars propose many theories to the decline of the Ottoman.Among the most importance, if not the most unfair and controversial, of all is the uncontrollable mushrooming of religious innovation (bid'ah) that was allegedly motivated by Sufis.Sufi adherents did not attach themselves to the ideal practices of Shară'ah, thus in most cases they were closer to the permissiveness (ibāh} iyyah) rather than the standard model of Islamic doctrine.They did not erect the obligation of praying, ignored zakah, and rejected fasting in month of Ramad} ān.More extremely, some even consciously declared the truth of religious pluralism, as it was and even now still is, appeared in the mystical doctrine of Bektashi order.Such heresies, according to some scholars, mostly were spread through facilities owned by the Sufi such as lodge (tekke) and coffeehouse.Therefore, in 1633, Sultan Murad IV, with the support of 'Ulamā', eventually decreed the banning and the extermination of coffeehouse from the Ottoman soil. 2 Under the shadow of the Ottoman, Sufis were blessed with luxuriant benefits.Politically, Sufis' influence has penetrated the throne of the Sultan.Some of them were even appointed to be the private tutors for the crown prince as well as for many elites Similarly, Jamse Grehan, who studied the smoking custom of the Ottoman people, mentioned the negative impacts of both coffeehouse and tobacco.
-In sixteenth century Istanbul, they lamented, the mosques now stood empty, as worshippers-including many members of the religious establishment-whiled away their hours in the inviting precincts of the coffeehouse.‖ 5e impact of such issue then became more sensitive when Sufis began promoting openly anti-Shară'ah customs and rituals taverns and coffeehouses were demolished, smokers were inflicted by severe punishment for opposing the official banning of tobacco, etc. 9 Although gaining Sultan support, Kadizade reform agendas were seemingly dull against the alleged heretic rituals and customs of the Sufis.The reason was because Murad IV did not wholeheartedly declare a war against Sufism since, like many of his forefathers, he also had a very strong connection with certain Sufi orders. 10The greater success was accomplished when Muh} ammad al-Ust\ uwānă (d.1661) claimed the movement's leadership in around the year of1655.This happened when the six-years old Mehmet IV (d.1687) was appointed as a Sultan replacing his father Ibrahim I( d. 1648), the mad Sultan, who was sentenced to death due to a mental problem.Realizing the Sultan's incompetency, Ust\ uwānă persuasively approached the grand vizier and successfully secured the government's support to embrace their reform plans.Although their anti-Sufi campaign was seemingly successful, the actual implementation of such campaign seemed to hit the wrong target.For example, Ust\ uwānă urged his sympathetic listeners to attack not only the regular Sufi brethren, but also mere visitors to their lodges.Those who were seized would be given a choice between renewing their faith or death. 11Therefore, probably due to this blunder, this wave did not seem to have a long age.When the position of grand vizier was occupied by Köprülü Mehmed (d.1661), the agenda was forcefully shutdown.Ust\ uwānă was arrested and had to endure a scorning exile to Cyprus in 1656.
In spite of the fact that Köprülü had successfully put out the distortion, it seemed that he did not sincerely execute his action.This indication was crystal-clear.First, Ust\ uwānă was never really exiled as he returned again to Damascus, his birthplace, in about one year after the issue of banishment. 12Second, and the even clearer evidence, is Korpulu's son, Fazil Ahmad (d.1676), who succeeded his father's job, co-operatively encouraged the third wave of the Kadizadeli's reform movement led by Vani Mehmed (d.1685).Their coalition managed to secure numbers of influential positions within the Ottoman governmental system.There were no significant differences between the current Kadizadeli's method of campaign and the previous one.In general, it involved anti-Sufi propagandas that in many cases were paired with physical punishment and vandalism.In 1683, Vani was appointed army preacher for Vienna campaign.Unfortunately, due to the Ottoman failure in this war, he was banished to his place of origin near the town of Bursa, and died two years later in 1685. 13o far, the socio-political turbulence that appeared as the result of Sufi-Kadizadeli hostility was quite catastrophic.It shed blood, vandalized properties, and destructed reputation.The uncertainty of ‗what really happened' during this specific period has forced many scholars to speculate on this issue.Consequently, polemics emerge as the result of the ambiguous speculations.Some took side the Kadizadeli while others defended the Sufis.Both are in the extreme position of bigotry.To the supporters of Kadizadeli, Sufis were bent, they spread religious heresies and cause crisis of morality, hence need to be straightened through all possible means.On the contrary, the blind apologists of the Sufis accused the Kadizadeli of being ignorant and ill-motivated.Hence, this leaves a big question: Did hostility really happen between the two groups?If yes, to what extent did such hostility happen?

Examining Sufism-bid'ah relationship
The romance between the Ottoman Empire and the Sufis has been tied for a very long time.The oldest traceable record is 13 Necati Oztturk, -Islamic Orthodoxy Among the Ottomans in the Seventeenth Century with Special Reference to the Qadizade Movement‖ (Ph.D. Dissertasy, University of Edinburgh, 1981), 276., 276; and for Ottoman defeat at Vienna see Douglas E. Streusand, Islamic Gunpowder  Empires: Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals (Philadelphia: Westview Press, 2011), 58-60.reported by Samer Akkach over the treatise attributed to Ibn'Arabă predicting the rise of the Ottoman dynasty. 14lthough it has a questionable authenticity status, the impact of such a prediction was undeniably encouraging, let alone it was a foretelling from a highly celebrated Sufi master like Ibn Arabi.Therefore, probably due to this reason, Sufism grew to be a highly demanding trend during Ottoman period.
In the 17 th century of Ottoman, people's motive to join Sufi way endured a very serious problem.Technically speaking, the word Tas} awwuf (Sufism) is derived from the word S} ūf (wool).The wool garment is a symbol of piety (Taqwā) since it was the garment of the pious people who lived during, and even before, the time of the Prophet.Therefore, ideally speaking, to be a Sufi means to follow the example of the Prophet and those pious, not only in their appearance, but, more importantly, in the way they lived and served God.On the contrary, in mostly Ottoman cases, one became a member of a certain Sufi order while hiding many concealed motives.It could be popularity since many high-ranking 'Ulamā' were Sufis, or additional income from Sufis' businesses such as tobacco and coffee, and even spying considering the long history of enmity that happened between the Shi'ite-Safavid and the Sunni-Ottoman Empire. 15he phenomenon of motivation-shift within the institution of Sufism was primarily caused by misconceptions and misconceptualizations of the mystical doctrine and practice by several Sufi orders.In this sense, both the mystical doctrine and practice failed to cover the complete structure of the standard model of Sufism which had long been actualized by the previous mainstream Sufi masters such as Suhrawardă, al-T| ūsă, al-Ghazālă, etc. Strictly speaking, the 17 th century Sufis had gone beyond the boundary of ideal Sufism, hence led to the widespread of religious heresies (bid'ah) and demoralization.This case happened in all over Ottoman land without exception, and even worse in certain region such as Balkan and Amasya.The questions, at this point, are: (1) Were all Sufis of the 17 th century Ottoman heretic?(2) Were there any Sufi orders, or at least an individual among them, who still at the straight path?
As a matter of fact, taking a generalization on whether Sufism during 17 th century of the Ottoman time was heretic or mainstream, orthodox or unorthodox, was a very risky decision to take.This issue has trapped many scholars in blunder for taking side one group and opposing the other.A thing that should be kept in mind when tackling this case is that the term Tas} awwuf (Sufism) during this period has endured extreme deflection.The classic usage of Sufism indicates it as the pure commitment of oneself to dive in the ocean of divinity by means of resembling the Prophet in everything.In the simpler expression, it is the practice of the Shară'ah at the level of Ih} sān. 16ll the high-esteemed Sufi masters concurred to this definition.17Even a jurist like Abū Ish} āqal-S} hāt\ ibă praised the practitioners of Sufism for their sincerity in worshipping God and their willingness to uphold the Shară'ah. 18The shifting of meaning of the term tas} awwuf had occurred in the later periods when Muslims encountered the cultural heritages of other civilizations such as Persian mysticism and Turk shamanism.The result of such encounter was quite detrimental in a sense that it caused the emergence of a new direction of mysticism that at the same time it was neither completely Islamic nor entirely unislamic.This syncretic Sufi order offered a package of doctrines, rituals, and customs that full of heresies and innovations.The masters of this order were closer to shaman rather than a Shaykh.They ‗developed' the already established Suni-mystical doctrine, omitted parts they disliked, adopted and installed in it the culture of their own, and turned it into a new doctrine that is completely loaded with heretic traits.The followers of such orders were very popular with their disentanglement from religious bounds.Therefore, it can be said that Sufism during this period was neither orthodox, since many orders were proved syncretic, nor unorthodox, since the great numbers of them still maintained their primordial Sunni characteristics.For this reason, Halil Înakcik, the author of -Tārăkh al-Dawlah al-Islāmiyyah min al-nushū' ilā al-inh} idār," proposed two classifications of Sufism within the Ottoman Empire.The first is the well-known Sufi orders of which their tekke was financially supported by the government's endowment foundation as well as the elites of the empire, and that of who had a clear structural organization and a definite brand such as Naqshabandiyyah, Mavlevi (Mawlawiyyah), Halveti (Khalwatiyyah), and Qadiriyyah.The second is the combination between the mystical heritage of the Turks-that was usually known as Malamior Malamitiyyah-and the Islamic mysticism such as the wandering Darāwăsh known as al- Qalandariyyah, al-Haydariyyah, al-Abdāl, and al-Bāba'iyyah; the followers of al-Hamzawiyyahorder; al-Bayramiyyah, al-H{ urūfiyyah, and al-Biktāshiyyah (Bektashi). 19he influence of the syncretic Sufism was extremely overwhelming in the period of 17 th -18 th century of Ottoman.To tell the truth, when historians talked about Sufism as the highly demanded trend of the people at this specific period they in fact referred to this kind of Sufism rather than to the mainstream one.This claim is not without proof.Halil Înakcik, for instance, found an astonishing fact when investigating the influence of the Bektashi order in Istanbul.His finding revealed that in 19 th century one-fifth of the city residents had embraced Bektashism as their mystical way of life, 20 the number of its lodge (tekke) reached seven hundreds spread in all Ottoman cities, 21 and even the legendary Turk revolutionist, Mustafa Kamal Attaturk, according to some scholars, was rumored to have connection with this order. 22Furthermore, Bektashi's well-known reputation seemingly was not restricted to the Ottoman domains.Through historical approach, Thomas McElwan has successfully traced back the roots of Bektashism that widely mushroomed in the Europe as well as the America. 23In short, the syncretic Sufism has grown to be a very powerful stream for several reasons: first, its fame had exceeded the boundaries of nation and second, it had an extremely great control of the people externally and internally.
The influence of the syncretic Sufis emerged in many areas.In Politics, their dominance led them to secure the utmost position and control at the heart of the Ottoman armed forces, the Janissary. 24The impact of this control was very determining and powerful.Their coalition even dared to rebel against the Sultan several times.Finally, in the 17 th century, they were able to counterplot Sultan Ibrahim I -who tried to disband the Janissary and replace them with the more controllable corps, removed him from the throne, and put him under capital punishment. 25Primarily due to this disloyalty, the corps were then officially shut down by Sultan Mahmud II in 1826. 26In economy, the undying activities of the lodge invited the merchants' attraction to do their trading.The followers of syncretic orders also participated constantly in business.Unlike the mainstream Sufis who firmly uphold the practicing of Shară'ah, the permissiveness of syncretic Sufis allowed them to 23 Ibid., 98-101. 24Albert Doja, "A Political history of Bektashism in Albania," Totalitarian Movement and Political Religions 7, no. 1 (2006): 84-101. 25The rebellion was based on the sultan's attempt to neutralize janissary's influence within Ottoman administration and territories.Unfortunately, the elites of janissary overheard Sultan's plan and counteracted it by plotting dethronement of the Sultan followed by the decree of his execution in the later day.Muhammad Farăd Bek, Tārăkh al-Dawlah al-'Aliyyah al-'Uthmāniyyah (Beirut: Dār al-Nafā'is, 1981) obtain profits even from the prohibited things (Muh} arram) such as wine (Khamr).With this benefit, they were able to establish and retain their dominance in the market, an achievement that in the later day evoked jealousy from the non-Sufis merchants and thus, according to some scholars, triggered the hostility between the Sufis and the Kadizadelis.In mysticism, the syncretic Sufis were able to severely transmit their heretic ‗disease' to the mainstream Sufi orders.For example, the Halveti order was undoubtedly Sunni in nature.However, when the order headquarter moved to the city of Amasya-where many followers of the syncretic Sufi order dwelled, internal conflicts began to heat up and finally resulted in the establishment of the left-wing Halveti.27B.G. Martin asserted, -The Khalwati has experienced a number of oscillations, at one time approaching Shi'ism, at another achieving a stage of nearly an unimpeachable of Sunni orthodoxy.‖ 28or those who have no knowledge of Islamic mysticism, distinguishing the mainstream Sufism form the syncretic one is never an easy matter.If seen from the outside, both seemed to have no difference at all.Normally, each the mainstream and syncretic Sufi order was composed of the master (Shaykh) to guide and the seeker (Murăd) to be guided; both mystical teachings, as well, consisted of theory and practice which often took place in a private lodge; and the two were also bound by the usage of identical technical terms -suchas maqamat (stations) and ah} wāl (mystical conditions)-that largely colored their mystical doctrines.Nevertheless, when both are viewed from the inside, it is crystal clear that there were numbers of sharp differences that fundamentally separated them from one another.
For instance, one of the most noticeable contrasts of the two appears clearly in the doctrinal understanding and application of so-called -Wah} dat al-Wujūd‖ (The unity of Existence). 29Generally, the syncretic Sufis believe that there is no difference between the Necessary Being (Wājib al-Wujūd) and the contingency beings (mumkin al-wujūd).In other words, both are identical thus share equal quality.Frasheri, an Albanian poet who embraced Bektashism, clearly stated -In this world Man is the representative of God . . .All things are in man, yea, even the God of Truth.‖ 30 Since there is no gap that separates the domain of God from that of man, they primarily assume to have united with God (ittih} ād) or that God has incarnated in them (h} ulūl), therefore, with this faith in the heart, they claim to be sinless and Shară'ah-free.Consequently, religious obligations such as prayer and fasting during the month of Ramadhan were no longer valid for them; there is no boundary of religion as for them all religion is the same, and everything is permissible (h} alāl) since nothing is ethically and legally prohibited if God is in them. 31Additionally, it was also this doctrinal error that is mainly responsible for the emergence of colossal misunderstanding toward Ibn'Arabă who was, in many cases, accused as the infidel Shaykh (al-Shaykh al-kāfir).In conclusion, the doctrine of Wah} dat al-Wujūd has endured drastic transformation in both understanding and application to the extent that resemble pantheism rather than Islamic teaching. 32n the other side, the prominent Sufi masters, from the very beginning, have emphasized the absolute differences 29 This doctrine is pivotal to discuss since most of the syncretic Sufis' heresies were built on its foundation. 30 between God and mankind. 33Al-Nābulsă strongly asserted -If you heard us saying Wah} dat al-Wujūd, then please be aware…that we are actually differentiated between the unity of Being (Wah} dat al-Wujūd) and the multiplicity of beings (kathrat al-mawjūd)‖ 34 Similarly, al-Witră stated -If you heard we say that the existence (al-wujūd) is God, it did not necessarily mean that all existents (mawjūdāt)-whether they are intelligible (ma'qulāt) or tangible (mah} sūsāt)-is God.What we really intended to say is that verily the existence that conditions and sustains the existence of all things is God, thus one of his Divine names is the Ever-Living and the Sustainer of all existence (al-H{ ayy al-Qayyūm)‖ 35 From the above statement some principles are inferred.First, Wujūd is one while mawjūd is multiple.Second, Wujūd is absolute while the mawjūd is conditioned.Third, Wujūd exists on its own while mawjūd has no existence in reality. 36Based on this fact, Allah is the only Wujūd in reality (al-Wujūd al-H{ aqăqă) while other than Him is in the state of absolute non-existence (al-'adam al-mut\ laq). 37God, through His Divine Will and Omnipotence, 33 Although Wah} dat al-Wujūdis often claimed to be to be the new mystical doctrine attributed to Ibn'Arabă, its essence actually has long been discussed by the pre-Ibn'Arabi Sufis.It was presented by al-Gazālă in his Ihyā when tackling the classification of tawh} ăd.See Abū H{ āmid Muh} ammad bin Muh} ammad al-Gazālă, Ihyā' 'Ulūm al-Dăn (Cairo: Dār al-H{ adăth, 1992), 306-24., 306-324; Al-Gazālă also raised the same issue in his book Mishkāt al-Anwār.However, instead of using the term of Wah} dat al-Wujūd, al-Gazālă preferred the word light (Nūr) as the symbol that represents the Absolute Oneness of God (Mut\ laq al-Ah} adiyyah of God) and darkness (Z} ulmah)  determines and decrees the existence of everything, so do their life, fate, and etc., and brings them from the state of nothingness to existence which in reality is conditioned by the Divine Existence of God.In summary, the prominent Sufis consider Wah} dat al-Wujūd as the translation of tawh} ădin descending mode.This comprehension is not obtained by formal learning.Rather, it is a gift ('atā') from God to whoever He wants among His servants. 38Those servants who never stop seeking for knowledge and truth, actualizing their knowledge into concrete practice, and persistently purifying their inner self (Tazkiyat al-Nafs) from the ‗inconspicuous Shirk' (al-shirk al-khafiy).
The dynamic disaster that was brought by -pseudo Sufism‖, including the syncretic Sufi orders, is not a new issue within the discourses of Islamic mysticism.For centuries, their heresies have strongly irritated the mainstream scholars, including the most celebrated individual among the Sufi masters.Al-Jălă for instance, in his Isfār, which is the exposition of Ibn'Arabă'sRisālat al-anwār, wrote a very severe criticism regarding this issue: -O my brother, May Allah be merciful toward you!I have travelled to the faraway country and associate closely with many kinds of worshipers, thus my eye did not see and my ear did not hear something more evil, viler, and more distant to the side of Allah than the group of people that claims to be the perfection of Sufism.They ascribe themselves to perfection and appear in their image.Nevertheless, they have no faith in Allah, His Messengers, the Doomsday, and have no bond with the obligations of Shară'ah.They affirm the conditions of the Messengers and the Revelation sent down to them in the unacceptable manner for whosoever bears in his heart an atom's weight of faith, let alone those who already arrived at the level of spiritual unveiling (alkashf) and realization (al-'iyān).We have seen groups of them.The largest number of them can be found in Azerbaijan, Shirvan, Gilan, and Khurasan.May the wrath of Allah be upon them!Therefore O my brother, do not stay in the country in which one of this groups live, as Allah has warned, -And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty‖.However, if it is hard for you to realize, at least keep away your sight from them and do not live closely to them, how can you befriend and mingle with them [after the strong warning from Allah].
Nonetheless, if you do not do [as i advise], then there is no point in advising you.Allah is the only Guide. 39rthermore, about two centuries earlier, Ibn'Arabă -who was allegedly charged with the crime of pantheistic Sufismlaunched fierce critiques to the heresies of his contemporary Sufis.For example, he denounced the practice of remembrance (dhikr) that was often performed with certain movement such as whirling or dancing.For him, remembering God must be executed in absolute humility and submission, this can be accomplished through total motionlessness and silence.He also condemned the Sufis who claimed to have reached the level of incarnation (h} ulūl) or unity (Ittih} ad). 40n the context of 17 th century of the Ottoman, the same tradition, the self-criticism tradition, or the -critics from within‖ as many prefer to use, was still inherited by many mainstream Sufi masters.Among the most celebrated of them is Ibrāhăm al-Kurānă in Hijaz and ‗Abd al-Ghānă al-Nāblusă in Damascus.For example, Kurānă wrote an extensive explanation of Wah} dat al-Wujūd for his pupil at the land of Java who asked him about the misapplication of such doctrine at that land. 41He also wrote two other treatises in Wah} dat al-Wujūd in which he defended the true tawhidic characteristic of the doctrine while at the same time attacking those fake Sufis for their ignorance and heresies. 42Al-Nābulă also manifested his criticism in the form of writings.
Beside a treatise called Ădāh al-maqs} ūd min ma'naWah} dat al-Wujūd, he has contributed two major books that become the cornerstone of the doctrine's apology. 43Moreover, al-Nabūlsă's case is rather interesting to highlight.He was once the student of Muh} ammad al-Ust\ uwānă, the most charismatic leader of Kadizadeli.The tight relationship of the two has seemingly escaped the scholars' attention when discussing the hostility that occurred between the Sufis and Kadizadelis.Nabūlsă even composed a poetry when his mentor, al-Ust\ uwānă, died. 44This fact of course has brought a question in mind -was there really hostility between Sufi and Kadizadeli?‖ In conclusion, based on the above explanation, at least four points can be inferred.First, Sufis of this period can generally be divided into two main groups, the mainstream-Sunni Sufis and the syncretic Sufis.Second, the mainstream Sufis maintained the upholding of the pure Islamic teaching while the syncretic Sufis combined Islam with the intellectual and cultural heritage of the native.Third, the mainstream Sufis consistently erected the axiom principles of Shară'ah 45 while the syncretic Sufis tended to be heretic and lawbreakers of the Shară'ah.Fourth, the mainstream Sufi masters persistently fought against the heresies and deviations made by the syncretic or pseudo-Sufis.These points are extremely important to keep in mind since many 43  45 Upholdig the shară'ah is compulsary for every Sufi.In Qawā'id al-tas} awwuf (The principles of Sufism) al-Fāsă has enlisted many reasons why a Sufi should embrace the elements of shară'ah in his daily mystical practice.One of the most famous principal mentioned is the saying of Imām Mālik "He who practices Sufism without learning the Sacred Law corrupts his faith, while he who learns the Sacred Law without practicing Sufism corrupts himself.Only he who combines the two proves true.‖ al-Fāsă, Qawā'id al-Tas} awwuf, 22.
scholars are repeatedly fallen into the traps, either to become the blind apologist of the Sufis or the ignorant antagonist of them.

Reconsidering Kadizadeli's anti-Sufi campaign
An attempt to bring back people to uphold the Shari'a has passed through very long episodes during the Ottoman reign.Many upheavals popped out in all over Ottoman regions demanding for a better religious atmosphere.Figures of powerful influence began transforming their regular sermon into rigorous movement that stirred the mass to eradicate evils from the Ottoman soil.Among the most important figures that must be mentioned in this relation is IbnTaymiyyah (d.1328), 46 the most celebrated scholar and the most controversial one whose ideas turned into the most important cornerstone of the later revivalists.Although being criticized by many scholars, IbnTaymiyyah's endeavors to battle the heresies of his time were considerably laudable.First, Ibn Taymiyyah's contemporary Muslim brothers were mostly infected by an acute bigotry illness, hence needed to be awakened. 47Second, at the same time the religion of Islam gained a rapid growing of new converts; the shifting of Islamic values that occurred in most cases reached the level of syncretism.Hence, although his method was very much problematic, Ibn Taymiyyah can be considered as the most successful figure that established the principle of Islamic revival.Even in recent time the so-called ‗Ibn Taymiyyah effects' can be strongly traced back in certain Islamic groups such as the Wahhabian.
About two centuries after the death of Ibn Taymiyyah, when the local mystics dominated the religious practice of the mass, arose a very distinguished scholar namely Birgili Mehmet Efendi (d.1573) who embraced Ibn Taymiyyah's principles of reform and revival.Birgili believed that all individuals, no matter he was and the position he had, was responsible for preventing the wrongdoing through all the three methods: hand, tongue, and 46 Muh} ammad Abū Zuhrah, Ibn Taymiyyah: H{ ayātuhu wa 'Asruhu, H} ayātuhu wa Fiqhuhu (Cairo: Dār al-Fikr al-'Arabă, 2000), 17-26. 47For further reading on the condition of IbnTaymiyyah time see ibid., 105-75.heart. 48Furthermore, He veritably equated the significance of "commanding right and forbidding wrong" with the importance of Jihād.This means, whoever died for the sake of this responsibility had to enter the ranks of the most excellent of martyr. 49Birgili wrote two books as the guideline of revival.The first one is his treatise entitled Was} iyyatNāma known as Risālah al-Birkiliyyah in which he discussed the true concept of tawh} ăd.aThe second is the T| arăqat al-Muh} ammadiyyah that contained the profound discussions about ethics (akhlāq), which greatly influenced the readers of his time. 50Although Birgili never openly mentioned the influence of Ibn Taymiyyah in his works, especially the last one, the Taymiyyan's color seemed to be too crystal clear to be denied.With regard to the reason of why Birgili hid the name of Ibn Taymiyyah while using his ideas, it was assumed that Birgili wanted to gain people's enthusiasm and to reach his revival objectives without stimulating their uproar.It was quite understandable since Ibn Taymiyyah's reputation was extremely bad among the grassroots of the Ottoman, due to his harsh attack toward Ibn ‗Arabă. 51lthough Ibn Taymiyyah and Birgili had successfully set up the essential frameworks of revivalism, the real episodes just 48 This principle is taken and based on Qur'an 3: 104 as well as its interpretation which is summarized in the prophetic tradition, -He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith  (Damascus: Dār al-Fikr, 1998), 158-227., 158-227; as for Ibn Taymiyyah's conflict with Ibn ‗Arabă, it seemed that he had taken back all his accusations.Although such claim did not have strong foundation, personally speaking, it brought more peace in the heart of the reader.‗Abd al-Rah} mān al-Sharqāwă, Ibn Taymiyyah al Faqăh al-Mu'adhdhab (Cairo: Dār al-Shurūq, 1990), 201-10.started when Kadizade Mehmed, Muhammad al-Ustuwani, and VaniMehmed were positioned successively as the leaders of the movement in the 16 th -17 th century.This is also the reason why the post-Birgivi revivals were more popularly labelled with -Kadizadelis‖ rather than -Birgilis‖. 52Unlike Birgili who was very cautious in performing his mission, the later leaders seemed to prefer a brute method that in many cases were apparently closer to vandalism rather than polite diplomacy.There are at least two points that differentiated Birgili and the later leaders, especially Kadizade.First Birgili knew his authority.Although he personally believed that the three methods of -commanding right and forbidding wrong‖ must be applied by every person; as the scholar and mosque preacher, he did not force his principles of renewal to be put into an actual practice by the mass.On the contrary, Kadizade vigorously turned his sermons into a mass movement and even employed violence to reach his objectives.Under his command, the Sufis who were captured by his followers were left to choose either to reaffirm their faith or to be killed.Second, unlike Kadizade, Birgili did not recklessly attack Sufism.He was once a member of Baryami order and highly admired the mainstream Sufi masters. 53In his T| arăqa al-Muhammadiyyah, the guideline book of Kadizade movement, he clearly showed his admiration to the true Sufis.Particularly after explaining the guilty of religious innovation (bid'ah), Birgili devoted a special discussion in which he elaborated Junayd al-Baghdādă's responses to such heretic innovation. 54In contrast, Kadizade seemed to equalize all Sufi orders as the fountain of heresies.Hence, he unstoppably made the new enemies.The most popular story of his enmity with Sufis was recorded by many scholars in his exchanging accusations with the Halveti Shaykh Sivasi Efendi. 55Furthermore, like Birgili who once tasted the droplets of Sufi's wisdom, Kadizade formerly was also the follower of Sufism. 56He attended the Terjumān lodge under the service of Shaykh' Umar Efendi.However, due to his temperament issue, Kadizade found that the mystical life of Sufism was not suitable for him, therefore he quitted and chose the way of speculation. 57he spirit of reform continued to be inherited by many figures after Kadizade, ranging from Damascene scholar Muhammad al-Ust\ uwāni to the most influential reformist Muh} ammadibn'Abd al-Wahhāb. 58With regard to the Kadizadeli movement, it was very unfortunate that all their revivalism agendas had to end up in failures.Many predictions are made to justify this case.Some are less credible and even sound too apologetic.The most reasonable of all is the thesis that argues that Kadizadeli's movement was not wholly for the sake of eradicating religious heresies and revitalizing the so-called principle of -Commanding right and forbidding wrong.‖This means that the movement actually concealed another motivation that, to a certain degree, was not even praiseworthy.This opinion was upheld by reliable scholars.Madeline Zilfi, for example, signifies that the Kadizadelis' revivalism was mainly motivated by the very strong influence of personal jealousy of the lower-ranking 'Ulamā' to the higher-ranking one, that was dominated by the Sufis. 59In other words, it was the attack on the hierarchy of the Sufis or, as Dina Le Gall preferred to express, it was the anti-elitism movement.60Le Gall said, -The issue was not simply concern over religious accretionism, but also protest over social standing and professional opportunities…all this was no doubt one reason that the Kadizadelis put Halvetis (and to lesser extent Malvevis, Celvetis, and other Sufis) at the center of their campaign of puritanism and anti-elitism‖ 61 On the contrary to the previously mentioned theory, Marinos Sariyannis suspects that economic interests were behind Kadizadeli's campaign.As it is already asserted in the previous discussion, the businesses of Sufis dominated the Ottoman market.The highly demanded commodities such as coffee and tobacco were monopolized by Sufis.Entertainment sites such as coffeehouses, and even some taverns, were also run by Sufis.Sariyann iinvestigated this case and found out the overwhelming control of mercantile classes over the revivalism campaign that the Kadizadelis desperately fought for.He asserted that, -The Kadizadel may have thus provided an ideological platform for the Istanbul merchants in their struggle for a more active role in politics.The merchant seem to have chosen the Kadizadeli ideas in order to promote their interest politically…‖ 62 -…., the Fatwās that there were indeed people in the late seventeenth century who followed Birgivi's ideas strictly, which renders all the more striking the fact that Ribāwas never touched upon by the Kadizadelis preachers.‖ 63Even Katib Celebi, one of the most notable historians of 17 th century Ottoman, a student of Kadizade Mehmed, distrusted the truthfulness of Kadizadelis' revivalism project.He strongly argued that the fierce hostility between Kadizadelis and Sufis was due to personal rivalry in gaining popularity.With regard to Kadizade-Sivasi hostility, Katib Celebi remarked -For many years this situation continued, with disputation raging between the two parties, and out of the futile quarrelling a mighty hatred and hostility arose between them.The majority of sheykhs took one side or the other, though the intelligent ones kept out of it, saying, 'This is a profitless quarrel, born of fanaticism.We are all members of the community of Muhammad, brothers in faith.We have no warrant from Sivasi, no diploma from Qadizade.They are simply a couple of reverend shaykhs who have won fame by opposing one another; their fame has even reached the ear of the Sultan.‖ 64 In short, Kadizalis's conflict with Sufis was not all about heresies.The problem is too blurred therefore is not judicable issue.However, based on the above explanation, at least it can be temporarily concluded that, like the Sufis that divided into the true and the pseudo category, the Kadizadelis were also made of two types.The first one was the true revivalists who sincerely fought against heresies and did not restrict their agendas only to the Sufis.The second one was the pseudo revivalists who were driven by non-religious motives such as personal interests, political advantages, and businesses and market monopolization.
Apart from the motive problem, another reason that made Kadizadeli vulnerable to criticism is the method they used in executing their revivalism agenda.In this sense, they tended to belittle the standardization of takfăr (accusation of unbelief).They made all kinds of heresy equal to unbelief deeds and thus the doers should be punishable by death. 65As a result, Kadizadeli's partisans seemed to be extremely cold-blooded.The students of Kadizadelis' 'ulamā' were armed with knives and 64 Celebi, The Balance, 133. 65For further reading of the development of takfirămovement and its relation to Kadizadeli, see Simeon, 214-238.cudgel to fight against Sufis; 66 individual Sufi masters were denounced and beaten; 67 facilities that belonged to Sufis were vandalized 68 and the captured Sufis were forced to choose either to reaffirm their faith or to be killed. 69Moreover, Kadizadeli's preachers even urged their followers not only to purify themselves, but also, more importantly, to seek for the sinners and forced them, through all possible means to return back to the straight path.No doubt, erecting the truth through violence and vigilante was completely against the principle of justice in Islam. 70Therefore, by allowing their unqualified followers to use force in commanding right and forbidding wrong, the elites of Kadizadeli had judgmentally and judicially blundered.Strictly speaking, by doing so, they had stained the noble agenda of Islamic revivalism by false and harmful methods which were not really Islamic in nature.
One of the most astonishing facts in the issue of the Sufis-Kadizadelis conflict is the tight relationship between al-Nāblusă 66 Marinos, 272. 67Ibid.,272. 69 Ibid.,258. 70 Birgili's interpretation to the prophet's command -He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith‖ is quite liberal.Birgili insists that all individuals, no matter he is and the position he has, are responsible to prevent the wrongdoing through all methods mentioned in the Prophet command.This idea was criticized by al-Nābulsă. Hebelieves in divisions of duty.In his perspective, there is very striking difference between the duty of -commanding right and forbidding wrong‖ and the obligation of -enforcing right conduct onto people‖ (h} isbah). Th first is allpeople responsibility that has no binding force.However, this duty is restricted only in conveying the ‗words' of forbidding the wrong and commanding the right, hence it does not matter whether the addressees accept the call or not.The second is the particular responsibility of the people in authority like Father to his offspring, leaders to his community, and government to their people.The concept of H{ isbah in constitutional level must be run by the government through a special institution called wilāyat al-h} isbah.This department is very important to keep the balance of society.Cook, Commanding Right, 326-7.and his mentor, Muh} amamd al-Ust\ uwānă.71 This phenomenon indeed is a thought-provoking case that invites skepticism toward the popular belief on the subject.Scholars hence begin questioning -How can the fundamentalist scholar and the most influential leader of the anti-Sufi movement like al-Ust\ uwānă accepted a Sufi and the most celebrated champion of Wah} dat al-Wujūd like al-Nābulsă as his pupil?‖To provide an answer for such a question, the writer in the beginning of this paper has tried to employ Steve Temari's categorization of the Ottoman 'Ulamā' in which Sufi scholars were divided into two: (1) the followers of al-Shaykhal-akbar Ibn'Arabă (the Akbarian) and ( 2) the regular Sufis.In this sense, the writer previously believed that the Kadizadeli's attack was actually directed to the common followers of the Sufi path and thus not against the Sufis who gathered under the banner of Akbarian.72 Nevertheless, such argument was theoretically weak.The banning of Ibn ‗Arabă's writings is more than sufficient evidence to refute such hypothesis.Hence, it was not worthy of consideration.
The writer then looked on Samer Akkach's comment on the issue.Akkach was another scholar who speculated on this paradox.Nevertheless, his opinion seemed to lack credibility.
Unlike Temari, Akkach was rather skeptical in discussing this matter.He doubted the real connection between al-Ust\ uwānă and al-Nāblusă.Commenting on al-Nābulsă's biography al-Wird al-Unsă, Akkach enlisted names of Nābulsă's 71 Al-Gazză, Al-Wird al-Unsă, 143-4. 72Steve Temari argues that sufism of this time can be divided generally into two groups: the Akbarians and the followers of Sufi path.The former is the champions of Shaykh al-Akbar Ibn'Arabă whereas the latter is the common followers of certain Sufi order.The followers of the Sufi path did not necessarily possess a profound understanding of religious teachings.As a matter of fact, most of them are blind i (Muqallid) and ignorant imitators, who in many cases, held dishonest purpose such as seeking for fame, selfbenefit, and even business profit.On the contrary, The Akbarians mostly are encyclopedic scholars who are expert in many disciplines of knowledge.See Steve Tamari, "The ‗Alim as Public Intellectual: ‗Abd al-Gană al-Nābulsă as a Scholar-activist," in Intellectuals and Civil Society in the Middle East: Liberalism, Modernity and Political Discourse, ed.Mohammed A. Bamyeh  (London: I.B.Tauris, 2012).most influential teachers who were somehow doubtful due to three main reasons.First, al-Ghazză, the writer of the biography, included someone who al-Nābulsăhad not met, ‗Ali al-Shibrāmilsă (d.1676).Second, al-Ghazză's list embraced the anti-Sufi fundamentalist, al-Ust\ uwānă (d.1661).Third, of all the names -of al-Nābulsă's formal teachers-that were enlisted by al-Ghazză, none of them was a Sufi master.Finally, his conclusion states that -al-Ghazză'seems to be interested more in establishing connections with celebrities than in detecting the truly influential figures in ‗Abdal-Gană's life and thought.‖ 73evertheless, Akkach's proposition is also dull.In the first argument, he questions the credibility of al-Ghazză's information in which he included the scholar al-Nābulsă he never met.Akkach's assumption is, in fact, based on his misunderstanding on the concept of ‗written certification' (al-ijāzah bi al-Mukātabah).Al-Ghazză did indeed mention that al-Nābulsă obtained a written certification from the Egyptian Shaykh al-Shibrāmilsă.With regard to this case, it must be clarified that: first, having certification through writing does not necessarily mean the impossibility of meeting between the certifier (Mujăz) and the certified one (Mustajăz). 74Second, the written certification (al-Mukātabah) is one of the agreeable methods of transmission (sanad) in Islamic tradition. 75Therefore, refutation of the credibility of this type of transmission is considered a big blunder for a scholar.As for his second argument, the long history of Islamic intellectual tradition showed that many fundamentalists were not against Sufism.Take for example Ibn Taymiyyah.Although he is often connected with the anti-Sufi movement, he was actually affiliated under the cloak of Qadariyyah. 76Another example is the Nusantara Sufi scholar Muh} ammad Arshad al-Banjāră who took a certification from Murtad} ā al-Zabidă on Muh} ammad ibn ‗Abd al-Wahhāb's Kitāb Tawh} ăd. 77With regard to the third, it seems that Akkach is too hasty in tackling his research thus it lacks accuracy.Anyone who observes this biography will easily find the Sufi master on the long list of al-Nābulsă's formal teachers such as Muh} ammad ibn Barakāt al-Kūfă (d.1665).Additonaly, al-Ghazză also mentioned other name who was actually a Sufi, for example, Shaykh Mah} mūd al-Kurdă who affiliated to Halveti order.
For those who have profound understanding regarding the ‗nature of revivalism' in Islam, the so-called -harmony‖ between the two conflicting sides namely Kadizadeli and Sufi is never a paradox.They are completely aware that among the biggest names in the history of revivalists, if not the majority of them, were the Sufis.Take for example al-Gazālă, ‗Abd al-Qādir al-Jazā'iră, the Nusantara 'Ulāmā' like Yūsuf al-Maqassāră, ‗Abd al-S} amad al-Fālimbānă, Dāwūd al-Fat\ t\ ānă, and many others.For the orthodox Sufis, combining the Shară'ah and the H{ aqăqah is nonnegotiable commitment.Correspondingly, it is unquestionably impossible for them either to practice or to spread the religious heresies to other Muslims.Moreover, similar to Kadizadeli's revivalists who supposedly endeavored against the heretic popular beliefs and customs, the orthodox Sufis were also irritated by such heresies. 78Hence, perhaps it was already natural for a mainstream Sufi scholar to criticize and even condemn 76 Makdisi,"Ibn Taymiyyah, Wan Muhammad Shaghir Abdullah, Shaykh Muhammad Arsyad al-Banjari Pengarang Sabilal Muhtadin (Kuala Lumpur: Khazanah Fathanaiyah,  1990), 24.
78 The so-called -critic from within‖ upon the pseudo Sufis' heresy was upheld by the mainstream Sufis since long time ago.In the context of 17 th century of Ottoman, arouse many figures such as al-Nābulsi, the Naqshabandi shaykh Ahmad Bosnavi (d.1664), Nūr al-Dăn al-Raniră (1658), Burhān al-Dăn Rāză Ilāhă (d.1673), and many others.For further reading on this issue, see Gall, "Kadizadelis," 1-15.such heresies.Commenting on some of the rituals performed by Sufis, who represented the mystical tradition within Islam, al-Nabulsi was unable to hide his distaste for the most uninhibited worshippers, who blabbed incomprehensibly and emitted cries which -resembled the braying of a donkey.‖ 79ot only actively erecting the backbone of Islamic teachings, were the orthodox Sufis also constantly participating in maintaining sovereignty and integrity of the Islamic empires as well.For example, during the crusade Shaykh Arslan obliged his pupils to take part in the military training and to keep the city of Damascus away from the enemies' aggression.It was completely the opposite of the syncretic Sufis, who cares about nothing but themselves.Even worst, in the certain cases, particularly due to their close affinity to Shi'ism, the syncretic Sufis obviously turned into an effective intelligence that collected information of Ottoman for the Savavid Empire from within.

Conclusion
The Ottoman Empire in 17 th century has suffered from many diseases, such as the changing trade route of European market due to the Ottoman's monopolization -which resulted in state revenue decline; 80 military expansions and high expenditures of wars as well as defeats and losses of large scale territories; 81 Ottoman's bad economic strategies reflected in devaluation, confiscation, and increasing taxes, 82 improper educational policies manifested in -Institutionalization of schools‖ and -Professionalization of 'Ulamā'‖;83 corrupt and incompetence elites as well as the application of so-called -favoritism‖ in the employee-recruitment system.84All these problems, as they were commonly believed, were due to the crisis of morality that had infected all stratums of the Ottoman people.Such crisis happened because of the widespread of religious heresies that allegedly promoted by Sufis.To a certain degree, that allegation is not completely wrong, but, at the same time, needs further explanation.
The Sufi of this specific period was generally divided into two categories: the mainstream Sufis and the syncretic or pseudo-Sufis.The first was the true Sufis who upheld the primordial teaching of Islam while the second was the ‗cocktail' Sufi who combined Islamic mystical teachings with the local heritage and culture.Based on this fact, when scholars talked about the -heretic of Sufis‖, this was actually valid for the syncretic type of Sufis and therefore not for the mainstream one.Additionally, the mainstream Sufis had long struggled against the heretic of the pseudo-Sufis.Therefore, many names of Sufis were listed among the most celebrated revivalists in the history of Islamic civilization.
On the other hand, Kadizadeli appeared to be the -hero‖ that opposed the heresies of Sufis and campaigned for Islamic revival.Nevertheless, many scholars doubted their true intention.Some believed that their campaign was indeed stirred up by jealousy toward the Sufis who, for years, secured the position of the higher ranking 'Ulamā'.Other smelled a strong influence of mercantile elites who tried to establish control over the market which was dominated by the Sufis.Although, all of their skeptical opinions were valid, it still did not deny the possible existence of true revivalist among the Kadizadel is such as al-Ust\ uwānă.Hence, the Kadizadeli case is exactly the same as the Sufis.In this sense, Kadizadeli can also be grouped into two: the true revivalist and the pseudo one.
Did Kadizadeli fight against the Sufi?The answer is, as for the pseudo of them, -yes‖; they did quarrel with the Sufi and as for the true revivalist of them -no‖.Why?Because not all Sufi were heretic, the mainstream of them shared the same attempt of eradicating heresies.Take for example Ahmad Bosnavi (d.1664), Nūr al-Dăn al-Raniră (1658), Burhān al-DănRāzăIlāhă (d.1673), al-Nābulsă (d.1731), Ibrāhăm al-Kurānă (d.1690) etc., who persistently called people to embrace the true teaching of Islam.Hence, unlike many scholars had believed, the harmony between Kadizadeli and Sufi, based on this analysis, is not a paradox and therefore an actual occurrence.The brightest example of this case was portrayed in the tight relationship that bond between the mentor, Muh} ammad al-Ust\ uwānă, the most celebrated leader of the Kadizadelis, and the pupil,'Abd al-Gană al-Nābulsă, the most prominent Sufi masters of his time.If the true Kadizadeli was not against Sufi then what was the object of their revival activities?The answer is obvious; it is bid'ah (religious heresies) in general sense.There is no disagreement among 'Ulamā', of the classical age and even of this contemporary time, on the dangerous potentiality of bid'ah in all aspects of human life.Therefore, both the mainstream Sufis and the true revivalists of Kadizadeli saw revival activities as a ‗fixed-price'.They believed bid'ah, in what form ever it appeared, regardless whoever practiced it or promoted it, whether he was a Sufi or even an the elites of the palace, must be exterminated without exception.The only difference is in the method employed by the two sides in order to realize such agenda.Hence, on the basis of this study, the thing that must be echoed in this case is not -Kadizadeli versus Sufi‖, rather it is -The true Muslim Scholars versus bid'ah.‖ The two books are al-Wujūd al-mut\ laqwa al-khit\ āb al-s} idq and al-Fath} al-Rabbānă wa al-fayd} al-Rah} mānă.‗Abd al-Gană al-Nābulsă, Al-Fath} al-Rabbānă wa al-Fayd} al-Rah} mānă (Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-'Ilmiyyah, 1985).; and al-Nābulsă, Al-Wujūd al-H{ aqq. 44Muh} ammad Kamāl al-Dăn Al-Gazză, Al-Wird al-Unsă wa al-Wārid al-Qudsă fă Tarjamat al-'Ārif 'Abd al-Gană al-Nābulsă, ed.Samer Akkach (Leiden: Brill, 2012), 143-4.
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