A Badawi Practising Certificate (Ijazatnâma) and Some Remarks About Tariqat Certificates

Characterized by tahalluk and tahakkuk, sufism has acquired a distinguished place among other principle-based islamic disciplines and thus been accepted as a specialized field of knowledge (‘ilm-imahsûs). since a practical aspect is essential to sufism, various sufi orders (tarîqat) have flourished and diversified over the course of time. in this respect, practicing certificates (ijazatnâma) play a central part in traditions of sufi orders because they authorize competency and merit in sufi knowledge. they are also a matter of interest in studies on the history of sufism because they incorporate an authentic line of succession in a sufi order. the status and utilization of tariqat elements like initiation (biat), succession (silsila), rituals, and conventions (âyin-erkân) have been widely ignored in studies of sufism and islam. again, interacting and mutually expounding relations between sufi knowledge and manifestations of sufi life have been, to a great extent, disregarded. from this point of view, rather than thinking about tariqat elements as nonreligious means and ends vitiating religious life and practices, more productive for religious thought is to regard those elements as instances whereby a religious tendency maintains a rational attitude. the following is the original arabic text, presented with a turkish translation, of a practicing certificate (ijazatnâma) conferring full authority of badawi caliphate/sheikhdom on muzıka-ı hümâyun colonel sheikh mehmed şevki efendi, accredited by musullu said efendi, the sheikh of beylerbeyi istavroz dergâhı.