Kasim Yağcıoğlu – Život, misija i tesavvufska baština halvetijsko-šabanijskog reda / Kasim Yağcıoğlu – Life, Mission, and Sufi Heritage of the Khalwatiyya-Šabaniyya Order
Kasim Yağcıoğlu – Life, Mission, and Sufi Heritage of the Khalwatiyya-Šabaniyya Order

Summary/Abstract: Kasim Baba (1934–2025) left an indelible mark on the spiritual history of Islam in Turkey and beyond. His life and work testify that taṣawwuf is not an archaic practice confined to closed tekkes, but a living process of purifying the heart and building community. Kasim Baba demonstrated that the essence of faith lies not only in learning and the formal performance of ʿibādah, but in serving humanity. His humanitarian efforts—providing scholarships for more than 19,000 students, feeding the poor, supporting travelers and the homeless—were a practical embodiment of the Prophet’s saying: “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others.” He was acutely aware of the challenges of modern society—materialism, alienation, the loss of spiritual values—yet he never condemned the world around him. Instead, he offered a model for living faith in a contemporary context, showing that values such as ikhlāṣ (sincerity), humility, patience, and love are universal and timeless. Kasim Baba served as a bridge between the classical Khalwatiyya-Šabaniyya tradition— handed down from masters such as Keşablı Aziz Hüseyin Efendi and Haydar Baba—and a modern society in search of practical solutions and spiritual support. His charisma did not stem from power, wealth, or titles, but from authenticity. People came to the Bereketzâde Mosque not only for prayer and dhikr, but to feel the warmth of his gaze, to hear counsel that struck at the heart of their struggles, and to experience the reassurance that they were not alone. His work in restoring Boyluca and the tomb of Seyyid Mahmud Çağırgân-ı Velî shows his awareness of preserving cultural and spiritual heritage. His service in the Bereketzâde Mosque illustrates how a mosque can be a place of open doors, where faith is not mere formality but a living force of community. His insistence on education and supporting young people demonstrates his belief that knowledge and spirituality must go hand in hand. One of his most famous sayings is: “If there is no room in your heart for another human being, how can there be room for Allah?” In an age when many seek peace in a world filled with unrest, Kasim Baba stands as an example of living Sufism—one that does not flee from the world but purifies it.

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