Spatial Functioning in Khalwati Convents in the XVI. Century of Istanbul: Relations of Tekke Units to Other Structures in the Complex

In the XVI. century, Khalvatiyya was one of the most influential orders in Ottoman social life. The order of Khalwatiyya owed this power to the support of government officials. In this respect, they had a widespread convent network in many cities, especially in Istanbul. Khalwati convents were mostly in the large or small complexes built by the statesmen. These convents were in contact and interaction with other units of the complexes they belonged to. There were partnerships in terms of space and staff between the convents and the mosque, masjid, madrasah, darülhadis, imaret, hamam of the complex. The members of a convent sometimes can get a job in other units of the complex; can use the spaces belonging to other units while they were performing the mystical rituals like zikir, tawhid, sema ; and sometimes？ they were able to benefit from the various facilities of other units. All this helped to keep members of Khalwatiyya in touch with the broader social sectors, as well as maximizing the influence of the order. From the beginning, it was the result of a process in which the patrons of these convents wanted and consciously prepared their sub-structure