Haci Bayram-i Veli
Encyclopedia
Hacı Bayram-ı Veli (1352–1430) was an Turkish
poet, a Sufi, and the founder of the Bayrami Sufi sect. He also composed a number of hymns.
(called Kurban Bayramı in Turkish). Hacı Bayram was born in small village in Ankara Province
, and became a scholar of Islam
. His life changed after he received instruction in Sufism
from Somuncu Baba in the city of Kayseri
.
together. During this holy journey Somuncu Baba continued to teach sufism. Somuncu Baba died in 1412 passing his authority to Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, who returned to Ankara
as the sheikh
(leader) of an Islamic sufi sect called Bayrami. He built a Dervish
lodge on the site in Ankara where his tomb and mosque still stand today. People would come to stay there and learn about sufism. The sect grew popular with Bayram's successful teaching.
Sultan Murad II
, who called Hacı Bayram to Edirne
(the capital of the Ottoman Empire
at that time). The Sultan wanted to test the opinions, doctrine and the patriotism of the sect. At this time in Anatolia
there were still many independent Turkish clans with little unity among them.
Hacı Bayram took another scholar, his student Akşemseddin, with him to Edirne to meet the Sultan. Murad soon understood that the complaints against Bayram were merely rumours and Hacı Bayram and Akşemseddin stayed for a while in Edirne, lecturing and preaching to the court. He had more private consultations with the Sultan in which they discussed matters of the world, life and the future.
In particular the Sultan was concerned with the conquest of Constantinople
, the Byzantine capital that the armies of Islam had struggled to conquer without success. The Sultan asked Bayram directly Who will conquer the city?. The reply came You will not. But this baby shall. You and I will not be alive at the time of that conquest. But my student Akşemseddin will be there. The baby was the Sultan’s son, the future Mehmed II
, who would conquer the city (which later became known as Istanbul) in 1453, and receive the title Fatih (meaning the conqueror).
Hacı Bayram requested that his student Akşemseddin be the teacher of the baby Mehmed, and Sultan Murad agreed. Hacı Bayram made a few more trips to Edirne until he died in 1430 in Ankara
, passing the leadership of his sect to Akşemseddin. His tomb and the mosque dedicated to him are in Ankara.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
poet, a Sufi, and the founder of the Bayrami Sufi sect. He also composed a number of hymns.
His early life
He lived between 1352 and 1430. His original name was Numan, he changed it to Bayram after he met his spiritual leader Somuncu Baba during the festival of Eid ul-AdhaEid ul-Adha
Eid al-Adha or "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep— to sacrifice...
(called Kurban Bayramı in Turkish). Hacı Bayram was born in small village in Ankara Province
Ankara Province
Ankara Province in central Turkey is the location of the country's capital, the city of Ankara.Ankara also gave its name to the Ottoman Empire's Ankara Province which covered a larger area than the current province.- Geography :...
, and became a scholar of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. His life changed after he received instruction in Sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
from Somuncu Baba in the city of Kayseri
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
.
His pilgrimage and the foundation of his sect
The two mystics, Somuncu Baba and Hacı Bayram, were living in the city of Bursa when they made the Hadj (pilgrimage to MeccaMecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
together. During this holy journey Somuncu Baba continued to teach sufism. Somuncu Baba died in 1412 passing his authority to Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, who returned to Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
as the sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
(leader) of an Islamic sufi sect called Bayrami. He built a Dervish
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
lodge on the site in Ankara where his tomb and mosque still stand today. People would come to stay there and learn about sufism. The sect grew popular with Bayram's successful teaching.
Akşemseddin And Hacı Bayram
The growth of the sect perturbed some local authorities; and they shared their worries with the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Sultan Murad II
Murad II
Murad II Kodja was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1451 ....
, who called Hacı Bayram to Edirne
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
(the capital of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
at that time). The Sultan wanted to test the opinions, doctrine and the patriotism of the sect. At this time in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
there were still many independent Turkish clans with little unity among them.
Hacı Bayram took another scholar, his student Akşemseddin, with him to Edirne to meet the Sultan. Murad soon understood that the complaints against Bayram were merely rumours and Hacı Bayram and Akşemseddin stayed for a while in Edirne, lecturing and preaching to the court. He had more private consultations with the Sultan in which they discussed matters of the world, life and the future.
In particular the Sultan was concerned with the conquest of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, the Byzantine capital that the armies of Islam had struggled to conquer without success. The Sultan asked Bayram directly Who will conquer the city?. The reply came You will not. But this baby shall. You and I will not be alive at the time of that conquest. But my student Akşemseddin will be there. The baby was the Sultan’s son, the future Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
, who would conquer the city (which later became known as Istanbul) in 1453, and receive the title Fatih (meaning the conqueror).
Hacı Bayram requested that his student Akşemseddin be the teacher of the baby Mehmed, and Sultan Murad agreed. Hacı Bayram made a few more trips to Edirne until he died in 1430 in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, passing the leadership of his sect to Akşemseddin. His tomb and the mosque dedicated to him are in Ankara.