In Gran Cairo (Cairo), there were many followers of a peculiar belief in the transmigration of souls, similar to the Munafihi sect. A dorgist, a learned member of this community, explained his prayers and hopes regarding the souls of humans after death. He prayed that their souls might one day inhabit the bodies of camels, which are considered patient, meek, hardworking, and temperate animals.
He believed that camels, especially those brought from distant parts of the East, were honorable vessels for the soul. The dorgist imagined that after 365 years, a soul could travel through several bodies of camels across generations. Eventually, the soul would return to a human body, purified and refined beyond its original state. This belief reflects a long-term spiritual view of moral refinement, linking virtue in life to the journey of the soul across different forms. It is said that this opinion is widely held in China as well Istanbul Daily Tour.
The Esfbraki Contemplation of the Divine
Another sect, called Esfbraki, which means “Illuminated,” focused on Platonical ideas and the contemplation of God’s nature. They accepted the unity of God but also recognized a Trinity as a number proceeding from that Unity. To explain this, they used the example of a handkerchief folded three times: though it has three folds, it remains one entire piece of linen.
Followers of the Esfbraki were less concerned with the literal composition of the Alchoran (Qur’an). They selectively embraced passages that fit their beliefs, using them to support their doctrines, and rejected or ignored the rest. They focused on the contemplation of God’s majesty as the highest form of bliss in Paradise. Earthly rewards or conventional visions of heaven were considered less important than spiritual insight and divine understanding.
Philosophy Over Ritual
Both the camel soul followers and the Esfbraki demonstrate how mystical and philosophical ideas developed alongside orthodox Islamic beliefs. They prioritized spiritual purification and divine contemplation over strict adherence to traditional practices. These sects show the diversity of thought among Muslims in the Ottoman Empire and neighboring regions, highlighting how religion, philosophy, and personal interpretation often merged in complex ways.