Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî ve Bektâşîlik

Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî, who lived in Anatolia in the 13th century, is a figure about whom little information can be found in the sources of his time, yet who has been the subject of much speculation in the period following his death. In order to better understand the personality of Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî and the nature of Bektashism as a school of thought attributed to him, it is necessary to examine the materials from the period in which he lived, foremost among which are the books he wrote. Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî's most important and voluminous work is Makâlât.

The late M. Es'ad Coşan Hocaefendi, as a result of his long, arduous and meticulous studies on Makâlât, clarified the subject of Bektashism with scientific methods and from many angles, and revealed that Hacı Bektâş-ı Velî was a Sufi whose roots lay in Ahmed-i Yesevî.

A significant portion of the writings in this book are texts that the author included in his academic studies. Some are transcriptions of speeches and conferences he delivered in various places, which were then edited and prepared for publication.