Haci Bektaş and The Ahi Tradition

Hacı Bektaş (Haji Bektash Veli) was an Islamic philosopher of the 13th century whose thoughts are based on the concepts of human love and human existence – in his view, man or woman, all of mankind is equal. The Bektashi Sufi order, which was named after him, was founded in the region of Cappadocia. Hacı Bektaş is considered one of the principal teachers of Alevism.

Hacı Bektaş established the first trade union in the world, the Ahi tradition, where all craftsmen had to follow certain moral and ethical rules in their jobs and to educate young craftsmen using rules, established social conventions, and tradition.