For the Alevi self-understanding, one of the central questions is: Are Alevis Muslims or not? Alevis provide very different answers to this question. Some see Alevism as a mystical community, others understand it as the essence of Islam, while still others perceive it as a non-specific variant of Islam. Additionally, there are interpretations that view Alevi teachings as an independent religion, way of life, philosophy, or culture. These various understandings lead to different social and political consequences in both the Turkish and German contexts. This study takes the perspective of Alevi actors and distinguishes whether, in defining the relationship between Alevism and Islam, individual aspects such as prayer or fasting are emphasized, or if a general statement is made without regard to specifics.