Abbâsîd Caliphs' envoys to the Seljuk Sultanate of Anatolia and their Sûfî activities

This study examines the envoys sent by the Abbasid caliphs to Anatolia within the framework of the diplomatic relations established with the Anatolian Seljuk State between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. Beyond their official and political duties, the study investigates the role these envoys played in the transmission of Sufi thought, spiritual values, and religious-cultural heritage to Anatolia. In this context, the roles assumed by the envoys in interstate relations and the spiritual and cultural contributions that emerged through their interactions with Sufi circles in Anatolia are evaluated. The subject of the research is the Sufi ideas and futuwwa concepts introduced to the Anatolian Seljuk court by Abbasid envoys, as well as the reflection of these ideas in social life through the institution of Akhism. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that Abbasid envoys were not limited solely to diplomatic representation but also played a pioneering role in the spread of Sufi thought in Anatolia, in laying the foundations of the doctrine of waḥdat al-wujūd, and in the institutionalization of futuwwa values through their transformation into the Akhi organization. In this respect, the study is significant in that it evaluates Abbasid–Seljuk relations not only from a political perspective but also from cultural and religious dimensions. The research adopts a qualitative approach, employing historical document analysis. The scope of the study covers the Abbâsîd diplomatic missions to the Seljuks between the 11th and 13th centuries, while its sample is represented by figures such as Majd al-Dīn Ishāq, Awḥad al-Dīn Kirmānī, and Shihāb al-Dīn ʿUmar al-Suhrawardī. The sources include historical chronicles, futuwwat-nāmas, Sûfî texts, and modern secondary literature. The collected data were analyzed through historical-sociological content analysis. Ultimately, the study highlights the necessity of examining Abbâsîd-Seljuk relations not merely in their political dimension but also within their cultural, religious, and social contexts.