On the origins of Yabali baba menqabes

Abstract

Menqabes a part of which is the religious and a part of which is the historical legends has an important place in the daily life of the people due to the relationship between religion and history. The menqabe protagonists, who are distinguished by their religious characteristics and who are mostly referred as “veli”, give lessons and messages to the people and societies, which have been transformed into a literary text form through events or acts. “Velis” are the religious elders living in the society. The Velis are clerics known as saints in the Christian societies and called Kam among the pre-Islamic Turks. After adopted the religion of Islam, Turks met the concept of veli accepting Ahmet Yesevi as the beginning and through silsile, especially through Hacı Bektaş Veli, they have put forward an perception of a Veli cult that has lasted. The Turks, who connected Ahmet Yesevi with the Messenger Hz. Mohammad, succeeded in developing a specific form of religious education with the help of the cult of the Veli. The menqabes, which has a pattern of events based on the cult of the Veli, is decorated with the “keramets” shown by the protagonists, that are Velis. “Keramets”, which are thought to be included in narratives inspired by the miracles of the Messenger, are the main element of the menqabe. Many extraordinary features such as not sinking in water, not burning in fire, being in two different places at the same time, being able to travel from the current time to another time,