Cübbeli Ahmet makes contact with Menzil community, meets with Erdoğan

The leadership struggle within the İsmailağa community following the passing of its leader, Hasan Kılıç, in recent months has paved the way for serious fractures. A group led by İbrahim Uslu, a student of Mahmut Ustaosmanoğlu, along with Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü (Cübbeli Ahmet), was expelled from the community.

After leaving İsmailağa, these individuals formed a new structure under the name "Müceddidiyye Assembly," claiming that Mahmut Ustaosmanoğlu was the "last sheikh" of the Mujaddidiyya branch of the Naqshbandi order.

THE "GOVERNANCE FROM THE GRAVE" DEBATE

Recently, a claim made by Cübbeli Ahmet that sparked reactions both within the community and in religious circles has gained widespread attention. It is alleged that Cübbeli Ahmet advocates for the belief of "governance from the grave," suggesting that deceased saints continue to provide spiritual guidance in worldly affairs, a view he reportedly expresses to emphasize Ustaosmanoğlu's spirituality. However, this idea has faced fierce criticism from both the İsmailağa circle and various other Islamic communities. Critics argue that these views are contrary to Islamic faith and Sharia, likening them to polytheistic beliefs or reincarnation.

CLOSER TIES WITH THE MENZIL COMMUNITY

Following the tension with İsmailağa, Cübbeli Ahmet has turned toward new alliances in religious circles. Most recently, he was observed making close contact with the Menzil community. Yunus Emre Aydın, who is affiliated with Saki Elhüseyni, a prominent figure in Menzil, met with Cübbeli Ahmet in Bursa. As is known, Cübbeli Ahmet also visited the Menzil village in Adıyaman at the beginning of the year to meet with Saki Elhüseyni. These latest contacts have been interpreted as an ongoing search for support from Menzil against İsmailağa.

MEETING WITH ERDOĞAN AT DOLMABAHÇE

According to a report by Cumhuriyet, immediately following the meetings with Menzil, Cübbeli Ahmet was received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul. Regarding the meeting, Cübbeli Ahmet shared on his social media account: "May Allah Almighty keep his book of deeds open until the morning of the resurrection for the sake of the mosque he will soon build on the Kadıköy pier, despite the reactions of those who hate the adhan."

Academic Bedri Gencer, known for his proximity to İsmailağa, used striking expressions in a post on his social media account. Gencer alluded to the past, stating: "I have known Erdoğan for a very long time, since his youth. Erdoğan knows Cübbeli Ahmet inside out and does not like him one bit. He has warned Cübbeli many times before, directly or indirectly. If only the walls of the Çırağan Palace could speak."

Gencer further claimed that Cübbeli Ahmet's "governance from the grave" rhetoric had reached a dangerous point, stating: "Because Cübbeli's delusion of 'governance from the grave' has reached a point that threatens the religious state, Erdoğan has shown Cübbeli that governance is not from the grave, but from the palace. Turkey, under Erdoğan's leadership, is going through a process of fortifying its internal front ahead of a critical election. Erdoğan has held this meeting with Cübbeli, who is merely a media phenomenon, to kill at least two birds with one stone and to send a message to both himself and his base."

News Source: 12punto