“The City of Rıza, Living in Rıza” is not merely a poetic phrase; it is also a profound philosophy of life that has its roots in Alevi thought. In Alevism, this concept is expressed as the “City of Rıza” and describes an ideal social order.
In this system, people live not in spite of one another, but together with one another and with respect for each other’s consent. No one uses their power to dominate others. Rights, law, and justice are protected not only by rules but also by conscience. For according to Alevi teachings, without consent, neither worship is complete nor can society be at peace.
It is not for nothing that the question “Is everyone content with one another?” is asked at the Cem ceremonies. This question is, in fact, like a summary of an entire life. If someone’s rights have been violated, if a heart has been broken, neither worship nor words hold any value in that community. That is precisely why the “city of consent” is, more than a physical place, a state of mind and a moral consciousness.
To live in harmony;
not by force, but willingly,
not through coercion, but through justice,
It is about existing not for the sake of self-interest, but by upholding justice.
In today’s world, amid wars, inequality, and injustice, this idea may seem like a distant ideal. But the truth is that any system established without consent is flawed; it offers not peace, but only a semblance of order.
The Alevi teaching of the “city of consent” and the phrase “city of consent” both point to the same thing:
A world where people live in harmony, without hurting one another or infringing on each other’s rights, and with mutual consent.
Because without consent, there is no justice.
Without justice, no city is truly “livable.”.