A Bibliographical Essay on Sultan Valad-I

Abstract

Bahāʾ al-Dīn Mohammad Sultan Valad is among the leading scholars, Sufis, and poets of the Anatolian Seljuk period. Known as the eldest son of Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn, Sultan Valad was the de facto founder of the Mawlawiyya order, which became known in Anatolia through his father’s name. He systematized the Mawlawiyya order, which had flourished through Mawlānā’s ideas, and ensured its survival for centuries. In addition to organizing the rules and rituals of the Mawlawiyya order, he was also closely involved in the reproduction and redaction of his father’s works. Sultan Valad was not only engaged in the affairs of the order but also composed works by following in his father’s footsteps. He authored a trilogy of mathnavis consisting of Ibtidānāma, known as Mathnavī-yi Veledī, together with Rabābnāma and Intihānāma, as well as a Dīvān. He also has a prose work entitled Maʿārif, which contains his conversations. His works are of great importance because they provide information about the historical figures of his period, constitute primary sources for the history of the Mawlawiyya order, and contain the earliest written poetic examples of thirteenth-century Turkish in Anatolia. Owing to these characteristics, studies have been conducted on Sultan Valad and his works. However, due both to his modest personality and to constant comparisons with his father, Sultan Valad remained in Mawlānā’s shadow throughout history and was regarded as a secondary figure. In recent years, however, Sultan Valad and his works have attracted greater attention in academic studies, and there has been a significant increase in research concerning him. This study aims to identify the studies conducted on Sultan Valad’s life, thought, and works, to prepare a comprehensive bibliography, and to present it to the attention of researchers working on Sultan Valad.