TURKOMANS BETWEEN TWO EMPIRES: THE ... - Bilkent University

appeared. Consequently, the two Shaykhs fell into struggle for the leadership. 525 More
correct is, perhaps, that two already differentiated groups of disciples fell into struggle.
The considerable portion of disciples, who were advocators of the traditional line and
inhabiting at the Tekke, wanted Ca’fer as their head. But there still appeared another
influential group, recruited mainly from the nomadic tribes of Anatolia and Syria, who
zealously supported Junayd.
Seemingly more decisive on the advent of events was that Cihansah Qaraqoyunlu
(1437-1468), who was ruling the region, was not pleased with Junayd’s presence in
Ardabil, most probably because of his political desires and of the military strength of his
disciples. 526 If relied on ‘Ālam-ārā-yi Shāh Ismā’īl, Cihanshah first wrote a letter to
Shaykh Ca’fer advising him to block Junayd’s action. Then he wrote a strong letter
directly to Shaykh Junayd, ordering him to disperse his followers. 527 Junayd, after a long
discussion and consultation with and his prominent disciples, is said to have replied to
Jihansah’s letter:
It should not be hidden from the world-illuminating king of Iran that apparently
your mind is ill and in trouble because of Shaikh Safī’s children. You should
banish this temptation from your mind and heart. Satan is deceiving you because
I am in a corner of my ancestor’s resting place and together with my devotees, I
am praying to God. I have never had the desire to rebel or conquer. If your
astronomers have frightened you because of a rebellion from Shaikh Safī’s
children, I am not such a rebel. Such a rebel may come from my children or
grandchildren. And if the will of God is such that a rebellion should arise from
525
HT, p. 152. But Qādi Ahmed Qumī does not mention shi’ite ideas of Junayd but simply refers to the
quarrel between Sultan Junayd and his uncle.
526
According to AA, on being informed of the growing strength of Sultan Junayd, the number of whose
adherents in Ardabil was increasing day by day, Mirzā Cihanshah “became suspicious of Joneyd’s
[Junayd] intensions, and apprehensive lest Junayd’s rising power cause his own decline.” See AA, p. 29.
For a similar account also see HT, p. 152.
527
In his letter Cihanshah wrote: “When my letter reaches you, you must remove people from yourself and
your spiritual guidance and remain by yourself. I do not feel safe in regards to you and your Sūfis, since
they may incite you to rebel and desire sovereignty. In my opinion, if a problem can be solved simply,
why should it cost the shedding of the blood of innocent people, and the destroying of thousands of lives?
If you do not accept my advice and do not do as you are told, I will certainly succeed in destroying you
and your devotees.” Quoted in Youssef-Jamālī, p. 19.
183