The du'ās, gulbanks and tercumans recited in the ocaks and groups of Alevî tradition

The Alevî tradition has been an important research area both in our country and in the world. The research in the area generally deals with its name and historical process while the studies about its cultural identity and world of thought are rare. From this point of view, the du'ās (prayers), gulbanks and tercumans that are of high importance in the cems, which are the center of their daily life and religious life, emerge as a valuable field that needs to be studied further. It is obvious that the determination of the foundations, on which the tradition is positioned, through the du'ās and gulbanks recited during the ādāb (etiquette) and arkān (pillars), which are placed in the center of their religious life, will clarify the different interpretations about the Alevî tradition to an extent. Besides, it will provide an opportunity for making healthier evaluations for the tradition by primarily aiming to reveal the mentality they hold. This study consists of introduction and two chapters. After giving information about the importance, subject, method and sources of the study as well as the conceptual framework in the introduction, we evaluated the religious status of the ocaks and groups of Alevî tradition: drew attention to ādāb and arkān performed and adopted in these ocaks and groups; and thus, examined the belief and worship dimensions of the tradition in the first chapter of the study. The second chapter covers the du'ās, gulbanks and tercumans recited in daily life, particularly the aforementioned ādāb and arkān. The du'ās, gulbanks and tercumans were examined in comparison with those recited in groups of other Sufi orders, thus pointing that the ocaks and groups of Alevî tradition have derived from the same root with other Sufi orders. Keywords: Alevîsm, Du'ā (Prayer), Gulbank, Tercuman.