Religious, social and cultural history of Suheyb-i Rumi zawiyah

Turkmen sheikhs and dervishes and their institutional structures (zawiya) have great influence on the Islamization of Anatolia and the Balkans and the strong settlement of Turkish culture in those geography. These pioneering Turkish dervishes have played active roles in political, military and strategic issues during the 13th and 14th centuries. Dervishes who lives in zawiya are of vital importance such as the provision of conquest, guidance of strategical places, settlement(housing), transportation and communication network throughout the country. It has also accommodation of travellers including their all kind of needs. It has also an importance on the people keeping their spiritual motivation in that area. In addition to spiritual motivation, they help poor people also. They provides important services in matters. These institutional structures (zawiyas) are seen all over the Anatolia and one of them is in Çorum, called by Suheyb-i Rumi Zawiya. Hz. Suheyb-i Rumi is from Ashab-ı Kiram (one of the companion of prophet Muhammad). It is stated that he participated in Istanbul expedition to conquest in Hejira 49th/Gregorian 669. And, it is said that he has passed away near Çorum city and buried in Hıdırlık neighborhood. The history of the zawiya, which is located in Hıdırlık, has not been able to preserve its existence, but it is thought that have been built by the Seljuk Sultans. Although there is nothing left from zawiya, there are mosque and sepulcher open for visit. In this study, it was carried out to reveal the administrative, social, economic and cultural structure of Suheyb-i Rumi Zawiya. And it is explicated the impacts of zawiya to Corum. Keywords: Ottomans, Çorum, Suheyb-i Rumi, The order of Rifâî dervishes, Zawiyah.