HISTORICAL PAINTED MOSQUES
Denizli is full of the historical painted mosques which most of them were built in 18th and 19th centuries with wonderful wall decorations, painted praying niches and spledid pulpits and desks in woodwork. Each of them is work of art reflecting the desire of faith and feelings. We belive these painted mosque used to be Bektasi lodges where morality, patriotism, religion, humanity and positive sciences have been taught by derwishes in. The belivers whom they used to attend could carry the messages they were taught to the far remote corners of the region. Those Bektasi lodges have been turned into the mosgue with the addition of painted niches after all the tekkes and lodges had been strongly restricted by law.
BEKTASI SECT AND ITS BELIEVERS
Bektashism is an Islamic sect and it is believed that was founded by Haci Bektas-i Veli who is one of the famous islamic philasopher lived in 13th century AD and the followres of this sect are known as Bektashi. Millions of people living in Balkans countries, Anatolia, Iran, and in Azerbaijandepends on the Bektashi sect. It has been as the sect of Babai, Yesevi, Ahi, Kalenderi, haydari, Rufai and Bektashi from the beginning to now. Four doors and four faiths are the main features of Bektashi sect.
BEKTASI SECT AND ITS BELIEVERS
Bektashism is an Islamic sect and it is believed that was founded by Haci Bektas-i Veli who is one of the famous islamic philasopher lived in 13th century AD and the followres of this sect are known as Bektashi. Millions of people living in Balkans countries, Anatolia, Iran, and in Azerbaijandepends on the Bektashi sect. It has been as the sect of Babai, Yesevi, Ahi, Kalenderi, haydari, Rufai and Bektashi from the beginning to now. Four doors and four faiths are the main features of Bektashi sect.
Four doors are ; 1. To belive in Islamic principles
2. To connect to the sheikh 3. To be trust and tell the truth always 4. To learn the path knowledge of God |
Fourth beliefs are : 1. Worship
2. Supplication, 3. Oblation 4. Reunion |
Other main pirinciples in Bektashi sect is to love Prophet Mohammed, his daughter Fatima, his son-in-law Ali, fourth caliph, his grandsons Hassan and Hussein. Bektashi followers also love twelve masters of this sect. Bektashism is a fundamental humanist teaching depending on maturity, love, identity, equality and freedom of faith. Teaching is focused on "human"
Main purpose is to reach Human Perfection defined as mature. This is an educational process which requires a specific period of time. Haci Bektas-i Veli has made a very great contribution to the philosophy of Turkish Sufism. One of his famous words is ; “ Make your hand, your tongue and your back under control. “Haci Bektas Veli is a contemporary of Mavlena Rumi.
HISTORICAL PAINTED MOSQUES
Historical painted mosques were the Bektashi lodges during the Seljuk and Ottoman times. These lodges were established on the way of trade routes throughout Asia Minor in 13th century to conquer not only the lands but also the hearts. All of the Bektashi lodges were the school of philasopy, center of intelllince, science, freedom of faiths and salvation army places. In these lodges , poor were fed and dressed, sick people were healed and treated, the blinds are illimunated and so on.
The people living under Seljuk and later Ottoman rules used to call these places when they were in need of trouble and and they used to get solutions for their necessities that is why these places were known as “ centres of enlightment. “ When the Ottoman Janissaries were established as the Sultan’s force, Bektashi teachings were adopted as the main principles for the army troops and continued for centuries till 1826. In 1826, the Janissary Army was abolished and Bektashi teachings were banned by the Sultan Mahmut II. Two years later, Bektashi lodges were closed and all the members of this sect were punished in prison.
In 1923 Turkey was refounded as a Turkish Republic and in 1926 all the sects in Turkey were closed and the sects were restricted then Turkey became a secular country and these lodges were transformed into the mosques by adding the pulpits and praying niches towards to Mecca and began using as mosques. All the mosques have a nice wall decorations with Mecca scenes, floral patterns, symbols of the sects, holy verses from Koran of Islam, flags of prophet Mohammed, names of the four caliphs and grandsons of the prophet above the niches, heaven and hell pictures, paintings of judgement days and so on. In short all historical painted mosques in Denizli province are worth paying a visit and they are very close to Pamukkale area and takes half an hour drive to reach.
Main purpose is to reach Human Perfection defined as mature. This is an educational process which requires a specific period of time. Haci Bektas-i Veli has made a very great contribution to the philosophy of Turkish Sufism. One of his famous words is ; “ Make your hand, your tongue and your back under control. “Haci Bektas Veli is a contemporary of Mavlena Rumi.
HISTORICAL PAINTED MOSQUES
Historical painted mosques were the Bektashi lodges during the Seljuk and Ottoman times. These lodges were established on the way of trade routes throughout Asia Minor in 13th century to conquer not only the lands but also the hearts. All of the Bektashi lodges were the school of philasopy, center of intelllince, science, freedom of faiths and salvation army places. In these lodges , poor were fed and dressed, sick people were healed and treated, the blinds are illimunated and so on.
The people living under Seljuk and later Ottoman rules used to call these places when they were in need of trouble and and they used to get solutions for their necessities that is why these places were known as “ centres of enlightment. “ When the Ottoman Janissaries were established as the Sultan’s force, Bektashi teachings were adopted as the main principles for the army troops and continued for centuries till 1826. In 1826, the Janissary Army was abolished and Bektashi teachings were banned by the Sultan Mahmut II. Two years later, Bektashi lodges were closed and all the members of this sect were punished in prison.
In 1923 Turkey was refounded as a Turkish Republic and in 1926 all the sects in Turkey were closed and the sects were restricted then Turkey became a secular country and these lodges were transformed into the mosques by adding the pulpits and praying niches towards to Mecca and began using as mosques. All the mosques have a nice wall decorations with Mecca scenes, floral patterns, symbols of the sects, holy verses from Koran of Islam, flags of prophet Mohammed, names of the four caliphs and grandsons of the prophet above the niches, heaven and hell pictures, paintings of judgement days and so on. In short all historical painted mosques in Denizli province are worth paying a visit and they are very close to Pamukkale area and takes half an hour drive to reach.
Content Author : Mahmut ÖKÇESIZ
Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published : 01 November 2014
Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT
Published : 01 November 2014