SUFISM IN THE SENSE OF FOLK MEDICINE IN OTTOMAN SOCIETY

Until the deep-rooted reforms started from the Selim II era, Ottoman health system was based on the value series of the Seljuk era. The health institutions of the era, named Dârüşşifâ, bimarhâne and timarhâne, were not official state institutions but they were rather established through the donations of bureaucrats and members of public. Established in the classical period, the institution of ‘Hekim Başılık (Chief Physicianship)’ mostly served to organize the health services of the palace and the army. During this long period when the health-related needs of people were not met by the state in Europe and ottoman State, the health and treatment requirements of people were addressed through physicians, surgeons and foundation hospitals in larger towns. Moving towards rural areas and greater masses, this duty was assumed by sheiks, hoja, ocaklı, healers who performed what could be described as traditional medicine or folk medicine. In Turkish communities, the origins of folk medicine dates back to Shamanic Kams, who were believed to have supernatural powers in religious and worldly terms. Folks in those times believed that Shamans were men devoted to religion, exorcised evil spirits and had healing abilities. Majority of the population were in this belief. Despite the process of Islamization in the following periods, these beliefs were not forgotten completely, but rather continued their existence by being adapted into Islamic beliefs. In this context, Shamans have continued their treatment duties mostly as ocaklı but they assigned their religious tasks and healing duties to the Islamic guardian cult. This way, Sufis became a significant part of traditional folk medicine first in Seljuk and then in Ottoman era. Through the lodges and monasteries they have established, Sufis integrated to the social life in the Ottoman era and performed countless important tasks for the community and the state, ranging from settlement of nomads to transportation, accommodation of guests to securing secluded areas, and treatment of numerous psychological and physical diseases. The people had a strong perception that Sufis were men of God, miracle workers and protectors. This belief was foremost important for the acceptance of their healing abilities. As such, members of public were seeking help from Sufis for all kinds of health issues, ranging from mental problems, stomachache, headache, pain in different parts of body, children’s health problems, infertility, behaviour disorders leading to domestic issues to epidemics. So much so that this curing capabilities of Sufis have sometimes been supported by the state and gained an official status. Hence the purpose of this study is to review the folk medicine aspect of Sufis in the Ottoman historic plane and to reveal the treatment methods they used for a number of conditions. The subject has been explained under two main headlines; one consisting of spiritual practises such as prayer, dhikr, nazar, ruqya and shrine visitations, and the other one consisting of apparent practises such as fasting, herbal mixtures etc. While conducting this current study, chronicles, Sufi works, memoirs of the era, archives and modern studies have been reviewed.