ABSTRACT

Dream stories in the Ḥadā’iḳ present us a world of anxious and frightened ulema. “The scent of death blew towards his soul. The freezing wind of divine fear shakes him like a leaf in autumn.”1 These are the words through which ‘Aṭā’ī often explains the initiation of the ulema to the Sufi path. If it were spring, the winds would have brought the news of one’s beloved, a common image in Ottoman poetry. But it is autumn, and winds bring them the news of approaching death. These ulema reflect on their deeds and decide that they can save themselves only by leaving their careers. It is surprising to find such a gloomy depiction of the ‘ilmiyye path in a book dedicated to the glorification of the ulema. Would not an ‘ālīm reading the Ḥadā’iḳ be intimidated by such a chilling depiction of his career path?