Iran- Anatolia Relations: Changes in Thought and Approach of Hurufiyya after Arriving in the Ottoman Territory

As geography and socio-political landscape undergo change so do intellectual currents and trends; a transformation ranging from sweeping changes in the nature and substance to modest adaptations to the exigencies of time. Hurufism (a.k.a Hurifiyya or Hurufi movement) during its nascent years in the time of its founder Fazlul l-Lah Astar-Abadi, also known as Nāimī, was a Sufi doctrine, which, in its later stages, veered toward political tendencies and Mahdavism. Upon their suppression and final expulsion from Iran under the Timurid Empire they settled in the Ottoman territory and donned an eclectic cloak and gave rise to Bektashi Yenicherisin the Ottoman Empire.
Anatolia’s atmosphere favorable to Sufi order led the Hurufis to render a charismatic image of their leader Fazl l-Lah Astar-Abadi. Their attempts at infiltrating the Ottoman court was a part of their intent to gaint political influence, and their propaganda among the Yenicheris was in hope of securing a military foothold in order to use these two wings in their final goal of establishing their own customized order, thus setting the stage for preaching their doctrine in this world.
The current article studies Anatolia’s political, social and religious background upon Hurifis’ arrival, explores Hurufiyya’s development in theory and practice and assesses the long-term implications of these developments on other sects and the overall Ottoman society.