Abdal

Abdāl (Arabic أبدال, plural of بدل badal " substitute ", "replacement" ) is a term that occurs in Islam, more specifically in Sufism ( " mystical " Islam) and Sacred for a God - related man or for a class of used men.

Properties

There are different views about which properties a Abdal or should have. In many cases, special religious or devout persons have been attached as an honor and recognition of the title Abdal in retrospect to their first name, or prefixed.

The idea of ​​the Abdāl can be traced to the early days of Islam traced. In a report, the tradition of transoxanische scholar al - Ḫuttalī quotes (d. 896 ), it is said that there were a total of sixty Abdāl by which God steer the thing in the world, and through which people ask for rain and get help against the enemy could. Whenever one of them die, God put in his place with another man. If He wanted to destroy the world, he let them all die.

Therefore, the Abdal in secret and in the name of God or by the will of Allah and permission should guide the events of the world and are rarely visible to the "normal" people. They are therefore called " substitute ", so spare, because God always keep their number constant, and whenever one of them dies, to replace him with another man.

The Abdāl are several ways to Khidr in relationship. So their appearance is very similar to the phenomena Chidrs. It is a widespread opinion that Khidr is a total of the head (ra ʾ īs ) the Abdāl. Sometimes in this role he enters the prophet Elias to the side. The Persian Sufi Ruzbihan Baqli (d. 1209) saw in a vision both figures together with the Abdāl on a paradise river where they washed their clothes.

According to another idea which Abdāl of a "pole" ( Qutb ) are governed. About the relationship between this and the two figures Khidr and Elias are in the Sufism very different views.

In Anatolia and the Balkans, the term Abdāl later became a title of honor for wandering dervishes. They are predominantly Alevi. Abdal also means " beggar ". It is also used as a term for the Davul - and - zurna - musicians, which are often for Roma.

Alevi tradition

In the Alevi tradition dervishes are called so almost exclusively. Since Alevi saint maintain no interest in the outward appearance, there is no uniform dress code or license plate. The Abdal tradition can be traced back constant throughout the Islamic history. The origin takes them out of the shamanistic embossed Turkmen- Alevi culture.

Some known Abdal were:

  • Pir Sultan Abdal in the 16th century
  • Hubyar Abdal in the 16th century
  • Kazak Abdal in the 15th century
  • Kaygusuz Abdal in 14-15. century
  • Abdal Musa in the 12th century
  • Hidir Abdal
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