Origins of the Hagiography Tradition
With the deepening of Sufism in Islamic thought, narratives (menkıbeler) emerged recounting the lives of dervishes and saints. These stories gradually transformed into written works, compiled under the name ‘menakıpnameler’ (hagiographies). Menakıpnameler not only reflect the life story of an individual but also the social, religious, and cultural atmosphere of that era. Works written to recount the heroic deeds of sultans, grand viziers, and ministers demonstrate the diversity of this genre. The key aspect is that these works attribute events to real individuals and emphasize their spiritual aspects, aiming to evoke respect and inspiration in the reader.
Vilayetnames and the Bektashi Tradition
As menakıpnameler spread among different Sufi orders (tarikat), some communities produced special works narrating the lives of their own saints. In particular, within the Bektashi tradition, these types of works were given names such as ‘vilayetname’ or ‘velayetname’. These names are related to the fact that the content of the work includes stories belonging to a region (vilayet) or a saint (veli). The Vilayetname of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli is considered one of the most important examples of this tradition and has played an important role in transmitting the order’s teachings, rituals, and beliefs. These works have contributed not only to preserving social memory but also to more than just being religious texts.
Biographies of Saints (Evliya Tezkireleri) and Literary Development
Unlike menakıpnameler, biographies of saints (evliya tezkireleri) bring together the stories of multiple saints instead of deeply examining the life of a single one. These works are also called ‘menkıbe mecmuası’ (collection of anecdotes) and provide a broader perspective on Sufi teachings. The work Tezkiretü’l-Evliya by Feridüddin Attar is a classic example of this genre, having gained an important place in the literary world through translations into various languages by different authors. The relationship between evliya tezkireleri and menakıpnameler is critically important for understanding the development of Sufi literature; because these genres have influenced and enriched each other, serving to spread Islamic thought.