- The Seljukian State,
after Malazgirt Victory, established a strong state and advanced civilization in Anatolia.
However, the state began to weaken toward late XIIIth century because of Mongol raids.
Oghuz tribe settling down in Anatolia in order to keep this inheritance alive, began to
form groups in separate regions. As a matter of fact, many Turkish emirates founded their
distinct states after Seljukian domination in Anatolia came to an end in the end of XIVth
century. A national cooperation union called (Trade-Guild) pioneered establishment of
social order in Anatolia in these days. It even helped strengthening and organizing of
Ottoman State.
Trade-Guild was an organization, which spread in
towns and even villages, counts national unity and integrity, reciprocal respect and love,
social solidarity and assistance as its primary principles. It is an organization
characterized as a sect strictly loyal to the religious and moral rules, aiming at
establishing a rooted, sound, orderly and national community in an atmosphere of
cooperation, unity of hearts and brotherhood. This organization was called Futuvvet. They
had their own unique traditions and associations known as Dervish Lodges. Its members were
mostly tradesmen holding a profession. This unity was very useful in development and
spreading of handicrafts, training of craftsmen within the framework of traditional rules
and regulation of economical life.
- Despite the past of
futuvvet and Trade-Guild goes far back, it was told that Ahi Evran was the person to
pioneer establishment of Trade-Guild in Anatolia, and he was deemed to be the founder of
this organization.The true name of Ahi Evran is Sheik Mahmud Nasuriddin. He had migrated
from Horasan, which was the Turkish area of Middle Asia, to Anatolia and had settled down
in Konya in mid-XIIIth century.
- The book named
Velâyetnâme (Saints Book), collecting the sayings about Hadji Bektaş-ı Velî states
that Ahi Evran, who inhabited for a period of time in Konya, went to Kayseri afterwards.
There, he engaged in leather trade and worked as a worker in leather workshops. He chose
this job because he knew that it was just as hard to season leather, to obtain mature and
usable leather with various pains and occupations, to bear its smell as to train and
mature people.
- Ahi Evran, having
concluded his ordeal and proving his spiritual power, went to Kırşehir and established
his Trade-Guild organization there. Ahi Evran believed that the ego of man was as strong
as a dragon and that one who defeats his ego would be purified of his earthly ambitions,
grudges, material wishes. In connection with this belief, it was told that Ahi Evran
pulled out from within himself the egoism snake called ego and carried in his hand like a
whip, and he was called Ahi Evran, meaning Ahi with a snake.
- Velâyetnâme says that
Hadji Bektaş-ı Velî frequently came to Kırşehir and had conversations with Ahi Evran
lasting for hours. Once, two personages had met in Kırşehir. They began to have a deep
conversation in Özbağlar where there is the well-known gardens of Kırşehir is. At the
same time, the frogs in a nearby stream were chirruping and attending the conversation.
Hadji Bektaş-ı Velî once called out to the frogs and said:
- Silence o blessed!
- Since then, the
frogs in these streams have been silent, they never chirruped again. It is said that Ahi
Evran granted the brevet and fastened the belt of Trade-Guild in accordance with
Trade-Guild traditions when he ascended the throne onto Osman Ghazi, the founder of
Ottoman state. It is known that paid great respect to Orhan Ghazi, the son of Osman Ghazi
and helped his conquests by forming regiments of Trade-Guild members.
- Trade-Guild
inculcated in the people the principles of holding in control their “hand, waist and
tongue”, that is keeping away from theft and wrong, being upright, keeping secrets,
refraining from bad words. It spread moral principles among people. It established the
first tradesmen organization and the social and economic order of Ottoman State based on
the principles of living as brothers toward good, right and beautiful, and provided
assistance to the state.
- Although we do
not know how long Ahi Evran lived, it is thought that he died in Kırşehir in early XIVth
century. We have no true information left about his life because his life was exaggerated
with various myths of centuries. However, his tomb in Kırşehir survived as a center of
Trade-Guild throughout ages and it was visited. A mosque was constructed in his name in
Ankara. The gates and windows of the mosque with wood carving embroideries of Seljukian
period are kept in Hüseyin Pasha Madrasah in Istanbul.
- There are many
personages in Turkish history. They are known for their ideas, and the effect of their
ideas on the community, not for their books. Ahi Evran is one of such people. He did not
leave a written book when he was alive. Even if he did, it did not reach today, or we
could not find it. Such personages are like suns calling people for national unity and
peace, rising on Anatolia and enlightening minds, heating hearts, influencing communities.
This is the reason why such people were not forgotten and lived on in the minds, tongues
and hearts of people. Ahi Evran is the most obvious example of oral culture. The seeds of
goodness and generosity he planted gave fruits and satisfied communities as thoughts. He
will live forever as an immortal thinker of and instructor of Turkish cultural history.
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