Nafi Baba an Innovative, Modern and Wise Bektashi Baba at The Sehitlik Lodge (1835-1912)

Şehitlik Dergâhı’nda Yenilikçi, Modern ve Bilge Bir Bektaşi Babası Nafi Baba (1835-1912)

Abstract

Nafi Baba is one of the most important Bektashi fathers who grew up under the conditions of the banned period of Bektashism. He was born in the Martyrdom Lodge in 1835. He started his education life by taking private lessons at a young age, and he learned religious sciences from important classes of the time. His scientific career started with the title of Istanbul professor conferred on him in 1846. The scientific rank of Nafi Baba, who also received a madrasa education, rose to the position of professorship in Süleymaniye and the Mevleviyeh of Aleppo. In 1861, he was brought to the post of the Martyrs' Lodge, and although he received a madrasa education, he did not act like an ordinary mudarris and became a special Bektashi father. He learned French and English, as well as Arabic and Persian languages, and adopted a modern and innovative understanding as a world of thought and lifestyle. He transformed his lodge into a center of science, culture and art, making it an institution where the intellectual part of Istanbul is among the regulars. Among the regulars of the lodge were famous thinkers, artists and poets of the period such as Philosopher Rıza Tevfik, Cartoonist Cem, Gedai, Rami, Hüseyin Kamî and Künci (Günci). The fact that he established political relations with the Young Turks, defended the transition to the constitutional administration and contributed to the establishment of Robert College, a missionary school, are reflections of Nafi Baba's modern personality. He had his grandchildren educated at Robert College, and some of them were teachers and administrators at this school. In this study, the life of Nafi Baba as an Istanbul gentleman, a modern, innovative and wise personality is discussed in the light of main sources.

Keywords: Istanbul, Mahmut II, Bektashism, Sehitlik Lodge, Mahmut Baba, Nafi Baba.