In Persian culture, it was commonly believed that certain people possessed a strange power in their eyes that could bring harm or misfortune. This belief extended to marriage ceremonies, where the eyes of some guests were thought to have the ability to cause weakness, illness, or even prevent procreation. To protect the bride and groom, Persians would create small sugar statues of important figures, such as the three doctors of Mahometan law, and place them at the entrance of the bridal chamber. These statues were meant to absorb any harmful gaze or magic from the onlookers. After the ceremony, the statues were destroyed and dissolved to remove the malign influence.
This practice shows how deeply superstition and religious interpretation were intertwined in everyday life. The Persians used symbolic acts to guard against perceived spiritual dangers, reflecting their broader approach to religion and ritual Walking Tours Ephesus.
Religious Controversy Between Turks and Persians
The enmity between Turks and Persians was not limited to war or politics; it extended deeply into religion. Both sides accused each other of blasphemy, heresy, and corruption of divine law. One example comes from the Mufti of Constantinople, Efad Efendt, who wrote a formal sentence condemning the teachings of a Persian scholar, Sari Halife, who tutored the King of Persia.
This sentence, approved and licensed in Constantinople, clearly illustrates the religious hostility between the two nations. The Turks viewed Persian teachings as false and dangerous, while the Persians rejected the authority of the Turkish religious scholars. Both sides issued anathemas and curses against each other’s beliefs, reinforcing mutual hatred and distrust.
Religious Disputes as Evidence of Hatred
The Persian practice with statues and the formal condemnation by the Mufti are just small examples of the deep-seated religious conflict between the Turks and Persians. Their disputes went beyond doctrine, affecting culture, politics, and daily life. The hatred was so ingrained that it shaped policies, wars, and education for generations.
Through these examples, it becomes clear that religious superstition and formal legal condemnations were powerful tools used by both sides to assert authority, protect their communities, and denounce their rivals. These practices also reveal how fear, faith, and law were closely linked in the Ottoman and Persian worlds.