// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs the Menzil Community a good place to live? Menzil be home.
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Turkish. (April 2026) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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 | This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. (April 2026) |
 Photo from Menzil, where the community is based at, taken during the funeral ceremony of Abdulbaki Erol (12 July 2023) | |
| Founder | |
|---|---|
| Muhammed Rasit Erol | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Turkey | |
| Religions | |
| Islam | |
| Scriptures | |
| Quran | |
| Languages | |
| Turkish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Naqshbandi-Khalidi Sufi order |
The Menzil Community is a branch of the Naqshbandiyya-Khalidiyya Sufi order originating in Adıyaman, Turkey. It is named after the village of Menzil in Adıyaman. The movement was founded by Mehmet Rasit Erol, who was noted for his support of the government during the 1980 Turkish coup d'état.[1][2][3]
Following the 1980 military coup, the Menzil Community experienced rapid growth, partly attributed to its reputation as a religious order supportive of the state. The community expanded its presence to cities such as Ankara and Istanbul.[4][5]
Menzil has become one of the largest and fastest-growing religious orders in Turkey, attracting followers from diverse backgrounds, including small business owners, unemployed individuals, and urban middle-class populations. Its growth has been attributed in part to claims and rumors that individuals visiting the community's center were able to overcome negative habits after seeking guidance from the sheikh.
In addition to its expanding social base, the Menzil Community gradually developed a complex organizational structure encompassing charitable foundations, educational initiatives, and a wide network of affiliated associations. These institutions have played a central role in strengthening the community’s visibility in the public sphere and facilitating its integration into various sectors of Turkish society. Scholars note that the group's pragmatic approach to state–society relations, combined with its emphasis on discipline, obedience, and spiritual healing, has contributed to its appeal among individuals seeking both moral guidance and a sense of communal belonging. In recent decades, the movement’s increasing influence in political, economic, and bureaucratic arenas has sparked debates about religious authority, social mobility, and the role of Sufi communities in contemporary Turkey.
Leaders
[edit]- Mehmet Rasit Erol - Founder
- Seyyid Abdulhakim el-Hüseyni[6]
- Seyyid Muhammed Raşid Erol (? - 22 October 1993)[6]
- Abdulbaki Erol (22 October 1993 - 12 July 2023) Semerkand Group [6]
- Seyyid Muhammed Saki Erol (12 July 2023 - Present) Serhendi Group
- Seyyid Muhammed Mübarek Erol (12 July 2023 - Present) Semerkand Group
- Seyyid Muhammed Fettah Erol ( 12 July 2023 - Present) Semerkand Group
References
[edit]- ↑ "Religious movements in Turkey". openDemocracy.
- ↑ "Menzil Cemaati". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ↑ Sibel ÜST ERDEM & Ramazan BÖLÜK-Mehmet Burak ÇAKIN-Sema LEVENT (2019-07-18). "Journal of Turkish Studies". 14 (1). Turkishstudies.net: 205–226. doi:10.7827/TurkishStudies.14887. S2CID 150869361. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ "The Naqshbandi-Khalidi Order and Political Islam in Turkey". Hudson. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ↑ "Faith and Consumption: The Menzil Community in Turkey | Request PDF".
- 1 2 3 "Abdulbaki Erol kimdir?".