Comparison of Anatolian Alevism and Iranian Shia in terms of principles of belief (Example of Adiyaman)

Considering Islamic cultural history, the words "Alevi" and "Shiite" are used in various meanings. Alevism, which came out after the death of the Prophet, was also used as synonymous with the word "Shia", the general name of the sects that differ in terms of the belief that rely on the issue of Hz. Ali's imamate / caliphate. In the present study, the evolutionary stages of these two concepts throughout the history and their faith-based relationships with each other will be discussed. In the first part of this thesis, information is given regarding the meanings of Alevism and Shia, the conditions under which they emerged, the change they have gone through over time and their reflections in Adiyaman. In the second part, which forms the backbone of the study, the belief principles of Alevism and Shia are given under headings and similar and different aspects of the two principles in Adiyaman province are presented. It is shown that Anatolian Alevism shows similarities with the Imamiyye Shia in Iran on issues including Ahl al-Beyt, imamate, twelve imams, belief in the divine book while they differ from each other in matters such as divinity, prophethood, wahdat al-vucud and Seeing God. In addition, some belief differences between Anatolian Alevism and the Alevism in Adiyaman region, such as whether the expected Mahdi is the twelfth imam, have been pointed out.