OSMANLI İRAN İLİŞKİLERİNDE BİR NÜFUZ ARACI OLARAK TARİKAT ŞEYHLERİ: ŞEYH MA’RÛF ÖRNEĞİ

The physical ruggedness of the eastern borders of the Ottoman Empire, along with its diversity in terms of religion, sects, orders, and ethnicity, made political, military, and security control challenging. Sharing these borders with a state like Iran, which was not only politically but also religiously and denominationally opposed, encouraged the presence and longevity of organized structures such as tribes and orders in the region. In the historical course of the region and the development of Ottoman-Iranian relations, from the 16th century onwards, Kurdish emirates and tribes played a more influential role, while in the mid-19th century, Sufi order sheikhs began to take the forefront. The effect of the centralizing administrative reforms implemented as a result of Ottoman modernization efforts in the region played a significant role in such a transformation. With these reforms, the emirate system was abolished, and central bureaucrats were appointed to newly established administrative positions. These bureaucrats, unfamiliar with the structure of the region, proved inadequate in resolving traditional issues that arose among the tribes. This chaotic situation in the region contributed to the prominence and increasing political influence of Sufi order sheikhs, who held a supra-tribal position. As this process continued, it also influenced Ottoman-Iranian relations, with Sufi order sheikhs becoming important actors in the region, regardless of sectarian differences in some cases. In the rise of orders in the region, in addition to reforms, the negative consequences of Western countries’ increasing pressure on the Islamic world and their missionary activities also played a significant role. This study aims to shed light on the role of Sufi orders in Ottoman-Iranian relations, based on the activities of Sheikh Ma’ruf, who is identified as a Qadiri sheikh from the Berzenci family. Sheikh Ma’ruf, along with his numerous followers and disciples, not only sought to preserve and perpetuate the Sunni Sufi tradition in the Merivan region of Iran but also became a socio-economic and political force for both countries by engaging in agriculture and farming in the territories under his influence, contributing to production. Therefore, the migration of Sheikh Ma’ruf and his settlement in Ottoman territories has multifaceted significance in this context