The Facts and History of Mevleviyeh

It is a sect that was attached to the name of Mevlana, but whose founder was not Mevlana, but his son Sultan Veled. It means a way or a route. Now, although this word has been vilified, the sects of the ancients were the houses of knowledge and wisdom. Moreover, in most of the sects, not only religious education but also scientific education was given.

Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi told his eldest son Sultan Veled that he did not intend to become a sheikh during his lifetime. After the death of Şems, he obeyed Selahattin Zerkub and then Hüsamettin Çelebi. After Mevlana’s death, Sultan Veled and Mevlana’s grandson Ulu Arif Çelebi shaped the Mevlevi order into an organized structure.

SECTARIAN MOVEMENTS 

During Mevlana’s lifetime, there was no fixed ceremony or formal dress code for his followers. He wore common scholarly clothing of the period, and only changed his white turban to a darker tone after the loss of Şems, as a sign of mourning. Mevlana emphasized that clothing and wisdom should not be displayed as outward show, and he criticized rigid dress rules. 

After Mevlana’s death, Sultan Veled initiated the construction of his tomb and prevented his community from dispersing. He strengthened the order by building relations with Anatolian Seljuks, Mongol authorities, and Turkmen lords, supporting foundations and sending trained dervishes to different towns to establish zawiyahs. Early gatherings and dhikr activities were often held in private homes until a more stable center formed in Konya. 

When Sultan Veled died in 1312, his son Arif Çelebi succeeded him, and the hereditary Çelebi leadership became established. Konya became the main center of Mevleviyeh. Arif Çelebi expanded the order by meeting regional rulers and opening zawiyahs in major cultural centers, helping Mevleviyeh consolidate its rituals and institutional identity by the 14th century. Although the order interacted with administrators, it was not limited to the ruling class; it maintained strong public support. 

MEVLEVI ORDER IN THE OTTOMAN ERA 

Mevleviyeh entered Ottoman lands during the reign of Murad II, with an early lodge opened in Edirne. In Istanbul, the first lodge was established in 1497 during Bayezid II’s reign.

Over time, Mevlevi lodges gained official recognition and certain privileges, including foundation lands and financial support at specific times. Despite this support, the order is described as not exploiting foundation properties and often contributing to the prosperity of the places where it operated. 

From the 14th century onward, Mevleviyeh spread widely across Anatolia and beyond, later becoming more visible in urban cultural life. During the reigns of Yavuz Sultan Selim and Suleyman the Magnificent, Mevleviyeh gained influence partly due to broader political-religious dynamics in Anatolia. Internal disputes over material interests later emerged, and the Çelebi office experienced a temporary leadership gap, before the order regrouped. In Istanbul, lodges such as Yenikapı, Kasımpaşa, and Beşiktaş became important cultural centers. 

SULTANS BELIEVING IN MEVLEVIYEH 

During Mehmed IV’s reign, semah was banned in 1666 under the influence of Vani Mehmet Efendi, and several lodges faced closure. In 1684, this prohibition was lifted and this event was called “tune” with abjad calculations. 

The situation is that for many statesmen, the Mevlevi order has come to the point of standing out, but it has never been involved in state affairs or social revolts. They did not misuse the given foundation properties. Despite persecution, they avoided rebellion and became known for tolerance. The prestige of the order also increased with the support or sympathy of sultans such as Selim III and Mahmud II. After the abolition of the Janissaries and the closure of Bektashi rooms, Mevlevi lodges regained prestige.

MEVLEVIYEH IN THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 

During the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the War of Independence, Mevlevi lodges served social and humanitarian roles. Yenikapı Mevlevi lodge in Istanbul was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers, and aid collected in Galata Mevlevi lodge was distributed to those in need. Some lodges in Cyprus and Crete functioned as shelters and helped Muslims reach Anatolia. In World War I, a volunteer regiment called the “Mujahidin-i Mevleviyye Regiment” was formed under Veled Çelebi and fought in Palestine. 

THE SITUATION OF THE MEVLEVI ORDER WITH THE CLOSURE OF LODGES AND ZAVIYAHS 

In 1925, dervish lodges and zaviyahs were closed. This was not directed solely at Mevleviyeh or Bektashism; rather, it reflected a broader closure policy. After 1925, Mehmed Bakir Çelebi, the last Çelebi, continued the order by moving its center to Aleppo. Later, due to his pro-Turkey stance during the Hatay annexation issue, Syria accused him of betrayal and prevented his return after he came to Turkey in 1937. Following his death in 1943, Syria abolished the Mevlevi order completely in 1944. In Turkey, while lodges were closed, major tombs were preserved as museums and cultural heritage was protected. “Şeb-i arus” ceremonies were later commemorated again, and academic and cultural interest in Mevleviyeh increased both in Turkey and abroad. Conferences in Europe and the United States contributed to renewed recognition, and the order was promoted nationally and internationally.