Among the followers of Mahomet, there are two major sects whose members are often hostile toward each other: the Turks and the Persians. This division has been intensified over time by differences in education, culture, and the interests of rulers. Each sect believes its understanding of religion is superior, and their rivalry has often led to tension and even warfare.
The Turks believe that Mahomet was the chief and ultimate Prophet. They follow his teachings and consider his interpretations of the law to be the most perfect and divinely inspired. In contrast, the Persians give special preference to Ali, Mahomet’s disciple and successor, believing that his inspirations were more frequent and that his understanding of divine law was deeper than Mahomet’s.
Accusations and Religious Disputes
The Turks often accuse the Persians of corrupting the Alcoran (Quran). They claim that the Persians have altered words, misplaced punctuation, and created passages that are ambiguous or open to doubtful interpretations. For example, some portions of the Quran that were brought to Constantinople after the conquest of Babylon were kept separate in the Seraglio and forbidden to be read, under penalty of a curse, because they were considered unreliable or altered Walking Tours Ephesus.
Because of these accusations, the Turks consider the Persians to be forsaken by God and even blasphemers of the Prophet. These religious disagreements were more than just academic; they had real political and military consequences. For instance, when Sultan Selim I launched a war against Persia, part of the motivation came from this deep-seated religious rivalry. The conflicts were fueled by the belief that the Persians were heretical and that it was the duty of the Ottoman rulers to assert the correct interpretation of Islam.
The Role of the Mufti of Constantinople
The Mufti of Constantinople often acted as a religious authority to resolve disputes between these sects. He would publicly point out the errors and misconceptions in Persian teachings, reinforcing the Turkish interpretation of Islam as orthodox and correct. By doing so, he helped maintain unity among Ottoman Muslims and discouraged the influence of foreign religious doctrines within the empire.
This rivalry between Turks and Persians shows how religious differences, combined with political power, can lead to long-standing enmity. It also illustrates the importance of religious authorities like the Mufti in interpreting and defending official doctrine against alternative interpretations.