Ocak (Alevism)

Ocak or Odjak (Turkish: Ocak, Kurdish: Ocax, Azerbaijani: Ocaq, lit. 'hearth') is the particular religious community which adherents of Alevism belong to. In Alevi tradition, each ocak is led by a dede, who is assumed to be descended from sayyids.[1][2]

Structuring

In traditional Alevi society, ocaks are typically passed down patrilineally. Each ocak traces its ancestry to a revered dede (religious leader or saint). However, there is a significant exception to this rule—particularly relevant in mixed marriages, where the mother is Alevi and the father is not (e.g., Sunni, non-religious, or from outside the Alevi tradition). In such cases, Alevi communities have often recognized the mother’s ocak as the rightful spiritual lineage for the child.[3][4]

Ocaks are interconnected and there is a familial connection between them. At the top of the family tree is Haji Bektash Veli. There are people descended from every ocak. The Dedes which are the older sons of ocaks are in a higher position then the younger sons. This hierarchical structure is part of the "Hand in hand, Haqq" mentality.[5]

There are Dede ocaks in Turkey whose hierarchy has not been established due to the lack of research. The most well-known example is the Şücaeddin Veli.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Aydin, Suavi (2018). Alevism as an Ethno-Religious Identity: Contested Boundaries. Routledge. p. 23.
  2. ^ Yaman, Prof. Dr. Ali. "Kizilbash Alevi Dedes". Retrieved November 17, 2022. All Alevi Dedes are affiliated with a particular Ocak [lit. hearth]. Because of this, they are also called Ocakzade [lit. son of hearth]. The Ocakzade dedes are assumed to be descendants of the Prophet, and are accordingly called "seyyid".
  3. ^ "Calışma Programı". AABF Geistlichenrat (in German). Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  4. ^ "AleviNet | Britanya Alevi Federasyonu | Cemevi". www.alevinet.org. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  5. ^ Dede Ahmet Kuzukıran İle Söyleşi. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Gazi Üniversitesi, Doç.Dr. İbrahim Arslanoğlu. Erişim Tarihi: 2014-12-15
  6. ^ Mehmet Ersal (2012). Şücaeddin Veli Ocağı: Balkan Aleviliğindeki Yeri, Rolü Ve Önemi. Archived 2014-12-15 at the Wayback Machine Türk Kültürü ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi. Erişim Tarihi: 2014-12-15
  7. ^ Çubuk Yöresi Alevi Ocakları Ve Kurucuları. Archived 2014-12-15 at the Wayback Machine Doç. Dr. İbrahim Arslanoğlu. Erişim Tarihi: 2014-12-15
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