CEU eTD Collection (2025); Derindere, Ece: Turkish-speaking Muslim Interpretive Communities in Late Medieval Anatolia through the Prism of the Sa'atname (The Book of the Hour)

CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
Author Derindere, Ece
Title Turkish-speaking Muslim Interpretive Communities in Late Medieval Anatolia through the Prism of the Sa'atname (The Book of the Hour)
Summary This thesis examines the Sā’atnāme, a widely circulated but little-studied late medieval Turkish text, in light of the political, social, and religious transformations of post-Mongol Anatolia. It presents the Sā’atnāme as both a reflection of the context in which it was produced and an active force in shaping it. Arguing that the text highlights an interplay between charisma- and scripture-loyal Islamic orientations, prominent in the region, the thesis explores how the Sā’atnāme functioned as an alternative text to the Qur’ān and hadith while being a conduit for sevāb (meritorious reward granted by God) and baraka (blessings) within Turkish-speaking Muslim communities. Beyond its content, the thesis traces the Sā’ ;atnāme&# x2019;s manuscript journey, examining its dissemination and reception in the early modern Ottoman Empire through paratextual elements in its various manuscript copies. By linking the text’s dissemination to the proliferation of ‘ilm-i hāl literature from the mid-16th century onward, this thesis offers insights into the religious history of Anatolia and expands our understanding of the newly emerging Turkish religious literature in the region.
Supervisor Krstić, Tijana
Department Medieval Studies MA
Full texthttps://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/derindere_ece.pdf

Visit the CEU Library.

© 2007-2021, Central European University