Does being Rafidi mean Shi`ite?: The Representation of the Kızılbaş Belief in the Sixteenth Century Ottoman Records

Abstract

The Kızılbaş, especially by the sixteenth century, played a central role in the Ottoman-Safavid struggle due to its close alliance with the Safavid. By using period archival records of the Ottoman administration along with historical and religious documents composed by the Ottoman elite scholars, this article aims to reflect the Kızılbaş’s religious orientation as perceived by the Ottoman policy makers. The documents examined include the fermans of the Muhimme defterleri, Selim Şah-name of Idrisi Bitlisi, Tevarih-i Al-i Osman of Ibn Kemal and the fatwas issued on the persecution of the Kızılbaş by Ibn Kemal and as afterwards reutilized by Ebussuud. In doing so, this article intends to uncover the Ottoman perspective of the Kızılbaş religiosity as if it had ever been linked to Shi`ism. Further the term rafidi to define Kızılbaş belief will be explored in detail to reveal if it is used as equivalent to the term shi`a.

Keywords

• kızılbaş
• şiilik
• râfizîlik
• osmanlı
• fetvalar
• kızılbaş
• shi`ite
• rafidi
• ottoman
• fatwas.