made themselves so important within the upper elites of the Empire that ended up paying off dividends in the end. “The Mevlevis were known for their close affiliation with the literati although their influence could be equally felt in the halls of government. In fact the [Chelebi] was given the honor of girding the new sultans with the sword of their forebear […] ”. By filling this position, the two different groups, the Mevlevi and the Ottoman elite, gained various things. Symbiotically, the Mevlevi received resources that permitted their excursions and institutions, while the Ottomans received enlightened culture that was associated with the Mevlevis. Even when Sultan Mehmed II Fâtih conquered Bosnia in 1463, the Mevlevi fortified their teachings and were instrumental in the Islamization of this area . Of course, this was not without difficulties.
According to one of the definitive works on Islamic conversion in the Balkans, Anton Minkov discusses the way that those within the Balkans identified themselves, stating that the local population’s affiliation to Orthodox faith was linked to the identity . In other words, one of the first problems the Ottomans faced within the region was how to reconcile the connection to identity within the …show more content…
“The Mevlevi Tariqa represented no threat for authorities, [since the Tariqa] did neither interfere with governance, nor showed tendencies to do so, as was the case with some other orders .” Thus, the Mevlevis were able to bolster their position and respect within the society, which allowed them to continue their practices and proselytization without much intervention, due to their position of trust within the society. Thus, the Mevlevi order was able to be very influential since it was one of the most well established religious orders of the
According to one of the definitive works on Islamic conversion in the Balkans, Anton Minkov discusses the way that those within the Balkans identified themselves, stating that the local population’s affiliation to Orthodox faith was linked to the identity . In other words, one of the first problems the Ottomans faced within the region was how to reconcile the connection to identity within the …show more content…
“The Mevlevi Tariqa represented no threat for authorities, [since the Tariqa] did neither interfere with governance, nor showed tendencies to do so, as was the case with some other orders .” Thus, the Mevlevis were able to bolster their position and respect within the society, which allowed them to continue their practices and proselytization without much intervention, due to their position of trust within the society. Thus, the Mevlevi order was able to be very influential since it was one of the most well established religious orders of the