Reading and Analyzing Ottoman Sources by Talha Murat

Mehmet Eray Avcı

Freie Universität Berlin
WiSe 24/25
Interdisciplinary Studies of the Middle East

Document Info

TSMA No: 2044/1
Place: 491/14
Date of Document: H-17-10-926

Transcription

benim saʿâdetlü oġlum sulṭanım ḥażretleri bundan üç gün muḳaddem ṭarafıñıza taḥrîr etden ṣoñra çünki meşâyiḫ ṣûretinde olduġumuzdan baʿżı meselelere varılub müzâkereniz es ̠ nasında böyle istimâʿ olunmuştur ki baġdada giderken mi yâḫud gelürken mi size berât-ı hüdayi verilüb ḳabul buyurmuşsañız ṣabaḥı gâyet muġber olup ḥâlâ ṭarafıñıza iġbirârını iẓhâr edermiş bu ḳażiyye maʿlûmunuz oldukdan şimdi serkârda olanlarıñ cümlesi sizi sevmeyenler olub bu taḳdirce kerîḥe fennaen ve ilmen ilmullah-i teala ḥaḳḳıñızda ḳaṭʿen ve cezmen bir fenâ şey yoḳ amma buyurduġuñuza def-i vesvese ẓâhiri gelüp bu varaḳa taḥrir olundu. kendinizi ahaliye ʿ arż ittirüp bir miḳdar zaman daḫî ḳalsa ki bu iḥtiyâṭdan nesne lâzım gelmez ve bundan mâʿ ada bir miḳdar iḥtiyâṭı ḳomayup mes ̠ elâ bir kes ̠ ret-i intiba ile bir maṣlaḥatla bir mübâşir ged gede yanıñıza görüldi ile getürmeyüb bir iki adamile getürmek gibi şöylece pespesereden iḥtiyâṭı elden bıraḳmasanız ḫoş olur amma bunlardan aşırı iḥtiyâṭ lazım degildir. efendim oġlum ṣaḳınub bu taḥrîr etmeden vesvese buyurmayasız. amma taḥririmiñ vecḥi oldur ki ḫanyaya gitmede beis yogdur demiş idim şimdi at ḥikâyeni istimâʿ etdiñ de rayim gayri güne olduġu ṭarafıña ifâde olundu. el muṣarraḥ el üsküdari fi şaʿbân[...]

Literal Translation of the Text: n

My Fortunate Son Sultan Majesty, Prior to three days after writing to you, as we are sheikh figures, some matters are heard during your deliberations. You were either going to or coming from Baghdad, and given the warrant of Hüdai and accepted it. In the morning, being offended and still expressing his resentment to your side. Now that this issue is recognized by you, and those who are in the head of the power are those who do not like you. Eventually, there is absolutely and certainly nothing bad about you in the sight of Almighty Allah both apparently and in knowledge, but, to dispel the doubts, this paper is written. Make yourself known to the people, stay for some more time, as nothing is necessary from this precaution. And, do not completely abandon caution. For instance, with plenty of impressions, with affairs, an usher might come to you, not with one or two persons but plenty, then it would be good if you don't abandon caution, but excessive caution beyond this is not necessary. My Majesty My Son, do not ever be in doubt about what I have written. But the reason for my writing is that I had said there was no problem in going to Chania. Now, after hearing your horse story, my opinion has been expressed to your side. The Evidently Right One, One From Üsküdar, In Şaban.: [...]

Textual Analysis:

By the mentioning of “Berat-ı Hüdâyi” in the text, and the mark of the sender as “ Al- Üsküdârî”, it can be understood that this text was written by Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi, a Sufi tariqat order’s founder. Hüdayi was born in a town that is currently located in today’s Ankara in 1541, and moved to Istanbul in his early ages to study at the madrasa of Küçük Ayasofya. After his education, he traveled across the regions of Bursa, Damascus, Egypt and Balkans. He engaged with many Sufi Tariqat orders, became a sheikh, and indoctrinated people according to Sufi Islam values. He built his very own dervish lodge (dergah) in Üsküdar in the year 1595, at the age of 54. He was an important figure in his time, he gave the first khutbah in the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in 1616 during its opening, and he was married to Süleyman The Magnificent’s grand daughter. He was in contact with couple of Sultans during his lifetime through visits and letters, such as Sultan Murat III, Sultan Ahmed I, Sultan Osman II and Sultan Murat IV. He even attended to the conquest of Tabriz by Ottoman Army per invitation in 1585. Evliya Çelebi, a renowned Ottoman traveller and author mentions that 7 Sultans had kissed Hüdayi’s hand in a manner of respect, and he had around 170 000 followers in his order. His own dergah was considered as one of the most sublime places of sufism in Istanbul and his influence went beyond Istanbul, across various regions, from Balkans to Baghdad. Indicating hisself as “musarrah”/the 1 evidently right one and “üsküdârî” at the bottom of the text shows the importance and respect he gained, as these high valued titles are matched with him. (Hüdayi, his most known title, also has the lexical meaning of “the one who has been guided to the right path.”) Moreover, as mentioned in the text, his authority to give the warrant of “berât-ı hüdâyî”, in his name, shows the power he held, and emphasizes the value and respect that is attached to him. By reviewing the context of the letter, and the elkab section (the part which the titles and adjectives of the addressee is listed) it can be said that Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi actually knows the recipient and has a relationship with him, most likely as a Sufi sheikh - follower relationship. His tone in the letter is both advisory and highly respectful, which might imply that the addressee is also an important high ranking political figure of that time, who was at a expedition to Baghdad or near Baghdad. The mentioning of a possibility of a visit from usher with affairs and Hüdayi’s advice to make himself seen more to the people also suggests this inference. Hüdayi mentions that since he is in a sheikh position, he has the ability to hear about rumors that exist, and when finds out about the problems and struggles the addressee is having, he decides to write this letter to guide and enlighten him. In his advises, he emphasizes the importance of caution that should be taken. However, he also comforts the addressee, and does that with also mentioning Allah’s name, which adds sublime authenticity and spiritual reassurance to the text, and tries to make the addressee feel safe and confident, without any doubts. While ending his letter, Hüdayi gives permission for addressee to take the trip to Chania, a coastal city in today’s Greece, in Crete island. This sentence and letter as a whole is another example of the crucial role Sufi Sheiks played in the Classical Ottoman Era in governing and decision-making. Just as Hüdayi’s other 2 letters in the Ottoman archives that were written to Sultans, this letter shows how Hüdayi has the authority to take part in managing crucial emergencies and struggles, through his “wisdom” and “divine power.” [...]