Akşemseddin (1389, Damascus - 16 February 1459, Göynük), by his real name Mehmed Şemseddin, was a versatile Ottoman scholar, physician, and the founder of the Turkish Sufi order named the Şemsîyye-î Bayramîyye. He is known as the teacher of the Ottoman Sultan Fatih Sultan Mehmed (Mehmed the Conqueror).
Life
He was born in 1389 in Damascus as the son of Şeyh Hamza (Sheikh Hamza). Sheikh Hamza raised the little Şemsettin, who came with his family to Amasya. According to accounts, Akşemseddin's lineage traces back, on his father's side, to Abu Dharr al-Ghifari. Having received his first education from his father, it is claimed that Akşemseddin became a hafiz at the age of 7. He settled with his family in the village of Sarpın Kavak in the district of Osmancık, Çorum. After completing his education at the madrasas of Amasya and Osmancık following his father's death, Akşemseddin became a müderris (professor) at the Osmancık Madrasa. Akşemseddin also became curious about medicine and pharmacy and learned the science of medicine. As had previously been seen in such examples as Seyyid Abdülkâdir Geylânî (Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani), Imam al-Ghazali, and Muhammed Celaleddin-i Rumi (Jalal al-Din Rumi), Akşemseddin, not satisfied with the acquisition of knowledge, left the professorship and the madrasa for the acquisition of gnosis (irfan). Because of his interest in Sufism, Akşemseddin first traveled around Iran, but since he did not find what he hoped for, he had to return once again to Anatolia. In Anatolia, they recommended to Akşemseddin the Hacı Bayram Veli who was in Ankara, and said the following:
Akşemseddin, who went to Ankara, left Ankara because he did not like such conduct of Hacı Bayram Veli—such as his accepting alms and charity, even if it was in order to break the egos of his students, to help the poor, and to offer hospitality to the destitute, and his having the devran (whirling) performed in the marketplace—and he went to Aleppo to seek another guide (murshid). One night in Aleppo, he saw in his dream that a chain had been placed around his neck, the other end of which was in the hand of Hacı Bayram Veli, who was pulling him toward Ankara. Thereupon he returned once again to Ankara. Taken under special attention and a strict regimen of asceticism (riyazet) and spiritual struggle (mujahada) alongside Hacı Bayram Veli, Akşemseddin made the best use of the care shown to him. Learning all the paths and subtleties of Sufism in a short time, Akşemseddin, on account of this success, received an ijaza from Hacı Bayram Veli and was crowned with the crown of the caliphate (hilafet). After this, with the permission he received from Hacı Bayram Veli, he left Ankara and settled in Beypazarı. Finding great fame in Beypazarı, Akşemseddin soon left there too and settled in İskilip. He also left İskilip, again on account of falling into the same crowdedness, and settled in the Göynük district of Bolu. In Göynük too, he had a mill and a masjid built, occupied himself with the education and upbringing of his own children, and, on the other hand, wrote his extant works and found the opportunity to go on the hajj seven times. Although it is mentioned that Akşemseddin had twelve children, the other extant sources speak of only ten children.
The Conquest of Istanbul
Akşemseddin's real fame began with his appointment as tutor to Mehmed II by the order and wish of Murad II. Akşemseddin advised Mehmed II and contributed to the conquest of Istanbul. Akşemseddin joined the conquering army together with his children, students, and disciples. During the most critical days of the siege of Istanbul, Akşemseddin wrote a letter to Mehmed II.
As Mehmed II entered Istanbul with Akşemseddin, they were greeted by the people of the city, and the people, mistaking Akşemseddin for Mehmed II, extended flowers to him. Akşemseddin, however, said, "I am not the sultan," and pointed to Fatih Sultan Mehmed beside him. Mehmed II, for his part, smiled with the words, "I am the sovereign, but he is my teacher. The flowers are worthy of him!" After Mehmed II completed his sermon (khutba) at Hagia Sophia following the conquest of Istanbul, he descended from the minbar and had Akşemseddin lead the prayer (imamate). Thus Akşemseddin led the first Friday prayer of the conquest. It is also related that Akşemseddin, after the Conquest, at the request of Mehmed II, identified the grave of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Ebu Eyyûb el-Ensarî).
Death
After the conquest, despite Mehmed II's insistence, Akşemseddin did not want to stay in Istanbul; he withdrew to Göynük and died there on 16 February 1459 at the age of 70.
Akşemseddin and medicine
There is no clear information in the sources as to from whom and how Akşemseddin learned the science of medicine. Regarding this, the Scottish orientalist Elias John Gibb records in his work titled History of Ottoman Poetry that Akşemseddin acquired his knowledge in the field of medicine during the years he was together with Hacı Bayram Veli, and speaks of him as a learned and blessed person.
Being a physician not only of bodily diseases but at the same time also of diseases of the soul, Akşemseddin is stated to have also treated mental illnesses.
Sources
- Turkish Wikipedia: tr.wikipedia.org
- English Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org