A Comparative Analysis of the Concepts of Sir and Muhabbet in the Alevi-Bektashi Belief System of the Bingöl-Kiği Region Within the Framework of Western Anthropological Perspectives

This study comparatively examines the concepts of sır (sacred mystery) and muhabbet (ritualized dialogue) within the Alevi-Bektashi faith of the Bingöl–Kiğı region, through the lens of Western anthropological theories of ritual, symbolism, and community. Employing a qualitative design, the research is based on in-depth interviews conducted with Seyyid Selçuk Sevin, a religious leader from the Kiğı–Karer area. Data were analyzed through a hermeneutic and interpretive approach, with particular attention to themes such as ritual performance, symbolic communication, and collective identity. Findings reveal that sır does not represent knowledge attainable through reason alone but rather a sacred truth disclosed only to those who undergo spiritual transformation and moral refinement. Likewise, muhabbet is not a casual conversation but a ritualized and dialogical practice that emphasizes ethical listening, spiritual maturity, and communal learning. The analysis engages with Turner’s concept of liminality, Geertz’s interpretive anthropology, and Assmann’s theory of cultural memory, thereby situating local religious practices within broader anthropological debates. Furthermore, Alevi notions of muhabbet are compared to contemporary Western community-based rituals such as sharing circles, circle work, and intentional community talks. While these practices share principles of sincerity, attentive silence, and reciprocal witnessing, Alevi practices differ in that they are deeply intertwined with the pursuit of sacred knowledge and metaphysical engagement. In this respect, the study contributes both to the deeper understanding of the Alevi-Bektashi worldview and to a critical reassessment of the applicability and limitations of Western theoretical paradigms.