Bektashi jokes
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The Bektashi order is a Sufi religious order (Tarika) and folk figure, the butt of common jokes, anectodes, or stories in some Islamic societies, particularly in Turkey. In these stories, the Bektashi acts as a free thinker and lives beyond the rules of institutional Islam and in that manner challenges the values of the society and popular perception of Islam. The Bektashi are generally referred to as Baba Erenler (Wise fathers, plural (ler) showing respect) in this context. The following example illustrates how the Heterodox understanding of Islam by Bektashis is expressed in these jokes:
"Bektashi runs into three kids who are trying to split 15 apples among each other, who are having trouble with the math. They ask Bektashi to help them split the apples. Bektashi asks: 'Do you want me to split them in God's way or in human's way?'. All kids, with no hesitation, assert that they will go with the God's way. Bektashi gives 13 apples to one of the kids, remanining 2 to another and gives nothing to the third kid. The last two kids shout at the Bektashi in anger: 'How come this is the God's way Baba Erenler, it is not fair!'. Baba Erenler replies: 'Well, if you asked me to do it in human's way, I would give you 5 apples each, but it is no good in God's way. Look around yourself, have you seen anything in the world that is distributed evenly?"
The legacy of the Bektashi also serves as a means of opposing the pressures put on society by Orthodox Islam. In Ottoman society, the Christian or Jewish peoples were not subject to Sharia since they were not considered part of Islamic society. But the Alevi/Bektashi population, despite their differences with Sunni Islam, were subject to the rules of Orthodox Islam. In this regard, the Bektashi's reluctance against the traditional ways of practicing religion, which is commonly observed in these jokes, helped them challenge this situation sarcastically. The folk Bektashi is also critical of the common perception of worshipping, which emphasizes image and shape rather than spirituality, as seen in the following example:
"After collective prayer in the mosque, Bektashi is praying for himself and asking for more money from God, so that he can buy raki, an alcoholic beverage. A religious man next to him is also praying for himself, asking for more faith from God. The imam notices this situation and yells at Bektashi: 'Look! Do you see what others ask from God and what you ask? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?' Bektashi replies in full confidence: 'Everyone asks for the thing he doesn't have, what can I do?'"
Although this legacy is popular and well-respected not only among Alevi/Bektashi but also Sunni Muslims in Anatolia, it is sometimes perceived as a deviation from real Bektashi philosophy and claimed to be degrading for Bektashis, particularly by Orthodox Muslims. However, Bektashi people generally regard this legacy as an inseparable part of their culture.
