Hurufis

The Hurufis, or Hurûfīs, were a late medieval Islamic mystical movement that emerged in the Persianate world, centered in Iran and Anatolia. They are usually associated with the Persian mystic Fazlullah Astarabadi, who is regarded as the movement's founder. The group preached a highly esoteric interpretation of Islam that emphasized the symbolic and cosmic significance of the Arabic letters (huruf).

Their doctrine held that the letters of the alphabet are divine forces through which God created and reveals reality. They taught that the Qur'an contains hidden meanings encoded in its letters, numbers, and arrangements, and that true knowledge comes to initiates who can decipher these signs. Exoteric religious forms were considered secondary or outward manifestations of a deeper truth.

Practices and organization tended to be clandestine; adherents formed circles and transmitted teachings through secret writings and rituals. The Hurufi program attracted urban elites and some Sufi-inspired circles but was condemned by both Sunni orthodoxy and mainstream Shiʿism as heretical due to its radical emphasis on letters and numerology.

Historically, the movement spread from eastern Iran and Anatolia into neighboring regions during the late 14th and early 15th centuries and left traces in various Persianate and Ottoman domains. Following the execution of Fazlallah and the emergence of stronger religious authorities, Hurufi groups declined and were largely suppressed by the 16th century. Nevertheless, Hurufi ideas are studied as a notable strand of Islamic esotericism and as an early form of letter-based mysticism that influenced later currents in the region.