Introduction: The Significance of the Work
The Makâlât, which forms the foundation of the philosophy and Sufi teachings of Hacı Bektaş-ı Velî, played a pivotal role in the spiritual conquest of Anatolia. Translated from its Arabic original into Turkish, this work served as a handbook for Anatolian dervishes for centuries, offering a unique synthesis of Islamic Sharia and Sufi truth.
The Teaching of the Four Gates, Forty Stations
The core structure of the work is the teaching of the “Four Gates, Forty Stations.” These are the gates of Sharia, Tariqa, Ma’rifa, and Haqiqa. Each gate contains ten stations, and the sâlik (seeker) must progress through these stages sequentially towards becoming a perfect human being. The Gate of Sharia involves fulfilling the outward commandments and prohibitions of religion (prayer, fasting, charity); the Gate of Tariqa entails attaching oneself to a spiritual guide and disciplining the self; the Gate of Ma’rifa signifies attaining divine secrets and practicing tolerance; and the Gate of Haqiqa represents directly witnessing God (seeing) and realizing the secret of Unity of Being (the oneness of existence).
Tolerance, Love, and Social Ethics
In the Makâlât, moral purification holds great importance. Bad character traits such as pride, envy, miserliness, anger, and gossip are considered demonic qualities, while humility, generosity, love, and patience are divine attributes. Hacı Bektaş-ı Velî, placing principles such as “Do not hurt when you are hurt” and “Look at seventy-two nations with one eye” at the center, has constructed an inclusive system of belief that rejects discrimination.
Conclusion: The Value of Humanity
The work is based on the truth that humanity is the essence of the universe. Human beings, created from four elements (earth, water, fire, air), derive their true value from the divine light within their hearts. The Makâlât is a universal book of wisdom that teaches nourishing the soul rather than the body, seeking essence over form.