INSTITUTION OF SOCIAL SOLIDARITY AND FELLOWSHIP IN THE ALEVI-BEKTASHI TURKMEN TRADITION: "MUSAHIPLIK"

Abstract

One of the most important institutions of Alevi-Bektashi tradition is Musahiplik. The origin of this practise is based on Kirklar Cemi and Medina brotherhood agreement (muahede) or Gadir Hum event. However, the essence of the musahiplik is brotherhood that is held between The Prophet and Ali. Musahiplik, accepted as a practice in which two people both assure to obey the rules of their path and keep their words forever, has its peculiar rules in religious, economic, social and moral terms. In this context, there are many rules in musahiplik, for example, they recognize each other very well, live in the same community, speak the same language, they are equal in terms of social status and helpful to each other and the marriage is prohibited among the their children and so on. Musahiplik, having its root in the fellowship of the Prophet Mohammed and Ali, maybe seen as a practice that Turkmens have formulated depending on their own living conditions. Research that has been done as fieldwork in some Alevi society, suggests that Musahiplik applications have great importance in terms of tradition and this institution is used very effectively during historical period. Nevertheless, musahiplik losing its popularity recently should be reformulated and revived in the light of current living conditions, which, indeed, will add power to the society we live in. In this study, we have outlined the following points: the origin of the tradition of musahiplik, its importance in terms of tradition, its main features; social, economic, religious, and moral dimensions, the disruptions which emerge in the process and finally the possibility of the musahiplik in the modern