Abstract:

The concept of authority in Baktashi thought depends on the capacity of representation. Both public representation and religious representation provides the representative with a full lagality in the eye of his followers. In Baktashism the community leader is Dede. Dede is a lider who instructs and guides the community. The order of charismatic authority in Baktashism follows a sequence of “Allah/Haqq, Muhammad and Ali”. The Babas and Dedes who have been regarded as a continuation of offspring of Ali are the living concrete cases of charismatic authority. Although the love of Ahl al-Bayt which symbolizes the ideal of Baktashi teaching has not embodied on the followers of order like Baba, Dedebaba and Halifebaba, it has become at least as much as them the founding element of a sacred authority. The respect shown to the twelve Imams in Baktashism shoud not be seen as a pillar of faith as has been in Shia. Twelve Imams have a very important place and meaning in this sufi tradition. Baktashi dervishes have felt the authority of Twelve Imams with symbolic values in all rituals of the orders.     

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