Turkish Sufism may be counted as the most female-friendly version of Sufism. Reasons for the veneration of Turkish women include the ability to perform miracles, piety and zeal in charitable works, long-enduring forbearance in very difficult circumstances, dying of unarticulated melancholic love, complete obedience and loyalty to husbands, and heroic acts against an enemy or tyrannical ruler.

The history of Turkish female saints goes back to the seventh/thirteenth century, when Khoca Aḥmad Yasawī, founder of the Yasawiyya Sufi order, sent his disciple…