Tasavvuf İlmi ve Akademik Araştırma Dergisi

Öz

Mawlawiyya, which is a widespread order over three continents in the historical process, possesses a centralistic structure. The most important factor enabling this is Chalabi Rank (Maqam Chalabi), the hereditary leader of the Mawlawi Order. Chalabi is a term that indicates a direct descendant of Mawlana Rumi and Chalabi Efendi is the highest ranking member of the Mawlawi Order by representing the authority of Rumi. This article discusses the Chalabi Rank in terms of its status in the Ottoman State and the Mawlawi order as well as its appointment to Konya Mawlana Lodge. Furthermore, it tries to clarify the appointment methods and further details related to Chalabi Efendi. Based on the historical records the article concludes that the appointment of Chalabi Efendi has a structure consisting of various methods such as consultation, inheritance, testacy, as well as, state intervention. Besides, according to these records indicating Chalabi appointment without any date, it reveals that the state intervention of the appointment of Chalabi Efendi starts in the 17th century. Despite the fact that the Chalabis, at first, did not welcome these interventions, we can see that sometimes they can pose an attitude in favor of the interventions as of the 18th century.