were built close to the shrines of important figures, providing places of refuge for travelers. “At bowshot range from the fortress is the shrine of Mustafa Baba, with a tekke […] where travelers can spend the night .” Although this is only one example that does not necessarily fit into the larger picture of the presence of Sufis in Europe, it does show from a primary source that tekkes were located within short distances of important locations.
In Asia Minor, mystical orders contributed to the religious syncretism in Anatolia due to the relatable practices between religions, like the veneration of saints and practices that were transferable . With the popularized notion of religious practices that did not follow the strict orders of the religion, lay people could …show more content…
More often, than not, it is necessary to offer more than one way to bolster your presence and lay the groundwork for success in the future. Similarly, the Mevlevi order employed different strategies within Eastern Europe that permitted successful expansion and conversion in the area. Through their market position as a preferred organization, they received resources and aid from the government that aided in the foundation of new institutions throughout Eastern Europe. Additionally, their role in the upper echelons of society caused them to have a lot of influence on higher culture that contributed to the Islamization in major centers, like Sarajevo. Lastly, the similarities with existing religion caused individuals to be able to convert easily through the transferring of previous practices as seen through the orders, not through orthodox understanding. In sum, Islam in Eastern Europe was able to permeate through the actions of Sufi brotherhoods, and the Mevlevis were some of the most