The Mufti of Constantinople issued a severe warning to the Persians regarding their religious practices. He stated that even if their only mistake were the rejection of Mahomet’s close followers—Omar, Ofman, and Ebbidecber—their crime would be so grave that it could not be atoned for by a thousand years of prayer or pilgrimage. In the eyes of God, they would be condemned to the bottomless abyss of Hell and forever deprived of celestial bliss. This judgment was reinforced by the teachings of the four great Imams: Imam Azem, Imam Schafiy, Imam Malicky, and Imam Hammi Walking Tours Ephesus.
The Mufti’s admonition was intended to urge Persians to correct their errors and to ensure that their scholars, including prominent figures such as Abbas, followed the true path of Islam. He emphasized that their deviation from orthodox beliefs was a serious matter, both morally and spiritually, and required immediate correction.
Kyzilbashi Heresy and Moral Corruption
The Persians were further criticized for embracing the heresy of the Kyzilbashi, which translates as “Red Heads.” This group had adopted practices that the Mufti considered deeply heretical. He compared them to the Durzi, a group living near Mount Lebanon, who were notorious for corruption in both doctrine and morals. The Mufti condemned the Kyzilbashi as not only heretical but also abominable in behavior.
He declared that, in the zeal of God, it would be lawful to kill and destroy them, as their tenets had been repeatedly refuted by authoritative scholars like Giafer Efendi. Giafer Efendi had labeled the Persians as pagans in seventy different parts of the Alcoran, demonstrating clearly the errors in their beliefs. The Mufti’s ruling emphasized that the rejection of orthodox teachings and the adoption of corrupt practices were not minor mistakes but dangerous deviations that threatened the purity of the faith.
Religious Authority and Enforcement
This strict stance illustrates the power of the Mufti and other religious authorities in enforcing orthodoxy. By issuing such strong condemnations, they maintained both spiritual and social control over Muslim communities. Heresy was not merely a personal mistake but a threat to the collective order, justifying severe measures to correct it.
Through these rulings, we see how religious law, morality, and governance were intertwined in the Ottoman Empire. The Mufti acted as a guardian of orthodoxy, protecting the faithful from doctrines considered false or dangerous. This demonstrates the importance of conformity to established beliefs and the serious consequences for deviation.