Sheik Edebali
Encyclopedia
Sheikh Edebali was a highly influential and respected Turkish
religious leader, who helped shape and develop the policies of the growing Ottoman State
.
, an important city for Seljuk Empire. Other sources indicate that he migrated to Anatolia
from Khorasan
, a region in Central Asia
comprising modern day Afghanistan
, Iran
, and Turkmenistan
.
After finishing his studies in Islamic law
at Karaman, Edebali went to Damascus
where he studied under notable Islamic scholars and thinkers. Edebali returned to Anatolia and settled in a village near Eskisehir
.
Affluent and wealthy, Edebali spent his money for other people as he built lodges for religious students, gave food to the poor, and funded Islamic law
programs aimed at teaching Anatolian Turks
the principles of Islam
. Edebali, who was also referred to as Mullah
, is considered the spiritual founder of Ottoman Empire and also being the first Qadi
of the empire.
It remains unclear whether Edebali met with the illustrious poet Rumi. While Rumi and Edebali lived in nearby regions, sources lack as to supporting the proposition of a meeting between the two figures.
, the father of Osman Ghazi
, conversing about Islam and the state of affairs for Muslims in the Anatolian region. Osman Ghazi had been Edebali's guest several times and consequently, Edebali became a mentor for Osman Ghazi and girded Osman with a ghazi sword
. In an often mentioned account, Osman, while at Edebali's lodge, dreamt seeing the crescent moon coming out from Edebali’s chest and entering into his own chest. A tree then emerged from Osman’s chest. Osman saw people, rivers and horses under the tree. When he awoke, Osman hurriedly told Edebali about the dream. Edebali responded that the moon represents Edebali’s daughter, Malhun Hatun, and she would one day be Osman’s wife. Edebali said that this marriage will spawn a dynasty and a mighty empire symbolized by the tree in his dream. Edebali's interpretation of Osman's dream proved accurate. Osman went on to marry Edebali’s daughter, Malhun Hatun who is the mother of Orhan Ghazi
, the second leader of Ottoman Empire, which prevailed as a world power for over 600 years.
After Osman Ghazi conquered Bilecik
, Edebali retired to his lodge where he continued his religious propagation. It is noted however that Edebali continued to participate in battles with Osman Ghazi. Edebali lived until the age of 120, although birth records were hardly kept at that time. Malhun Hatun, died only a month after her father. Edebali's tomb is still in his lodge at Bilecik.
In one famous declaration, Edebali told Osman:
O my son!
Now you are king!
From now on, wrath is for us;
for you, calm!
For us to be offended;
for you to please!
For us to accuse;
for you to endure!
For us, helplessness and error;
for you, tolerance!
For us, quarrel;
for you, justice!
For us, envy, rumor, slander;
for you, forgiveness!
O my son!
From now on, it is for us to divide;
for you to unite!
For us, sloth;
for you, warning and encouragement!
O my son!
Be patient, a flower does not bloom before its time.
Never forget: Let man flourish, and the state will also flourish!
O my son!
Your burden is heavy, your task hard, your power hangs on a hair!
May God be your helper!
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
religious leader, who helped shape and develop the policies of the growing Ottoman State
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...
.
Early life
Although sources pertaining to his place of birth are conflicting, Sheikh Edebali may have been born in KaramanKaraman
Karaman is a town in south central Turkey, located north of the Taurus Mountains, about south of Konya. It is the capital district of the Karaman Province. According to 2000 census, the population of the province is 231 872 of which 132,064 live in the town of Karaman. The district covers an area...
, an important city for Seljuk Empire. Other sources indicate that he migrated to Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
from Khorasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
, a region in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
comprising modern day Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
.
After finishing his studies in Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
at Karaman, Edebali went to Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
where he studied under notable Islamic scholars and thinkers. Edebali returned to Anatolia and settled in a village near Eskisehir
Eskisehir
Eskişehir is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby...
.
Affluent and wealthy, Edebali spent his money for other people as he built lodges for religious students, gave food to the poor, and funded Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
programs aimed at teaching Anatolian Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
the principles of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Edebali, who was also referred to as Mullah
Mullah
Mullah is generally used to refer to a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law. The title, given to some Islamic clergy, is derived from the Arabic word مَوْلَى mawlā , meaning "vicar", "master" and "guardian"...
, is considered the spiritual founder of Ottoman Empire and also being the first Qadi
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
of the empire.
It remains unclear whether Edebali met with the illustrious poet Rumi. While Rumi and Edebali lived in nearby regions, sources lack as to supporting the proposition of a meeting between the two figures.
Interaction with Ottoman leaders
Edebali often convened with Ertugrul GhaziErtugrul
Ertuğrul was the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. He was the leader of the Kayı clan of the Oghuz Turks...
, the father of Osman Ghazi
Osman I
Osman I or Othman I or El-Gazi Sultan Osman Ghazi, or Osman Bey or I. Osman, Osman Gazi Han), nicknamed "Kara" for his courage, was the leader of the Ottoman Turks, and the founder of the dynasty that established and ruled the Ottoman Empire...
, conversing about Islam and the state of affairs for Muslims in the Anatolian region. Osman Ghazi had been Edebali's guest several times and consequently, Edebali became a mentor for Osman Ghazi and girded Osman with a ghazi sword
Sword of Osman
The Sword of Osman was an important sword of state used during the coronation ceremony of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The sword was named after Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Dynasty. The practice started when Osman I was girt with the sword of Islam by his mentor and father-in-law Sheik...
. In an often mentioned account, Osman, while at Edebali's lodge, dreamt seeing the crescent moon coming out from Edebali’s chest and entering into his own chest. A tree then emerged from Osman’s chest. Osman saw people, rivers and horses under the tree. When he awoke, Osman hurriedly told Edebali about the dream. Edebali responded that the moon represents Edebali’s daughter, Malhun Hatun, and she would one day be Osman’s wife. Edebali said that this marriage will spawn a dynasty and a mighty empire symbolized by the tree in his dream. Edebali's interpretation of Osman's dream proved accurate. Osman went on to marry Edebali’s daughter, Malhun Hatun who is the mother of Orhan Ghazi
Orhan I
Orhan I or Orhan Bey was the second bey of the nascent Ottoman Empire from 1326 to 1359...
, the second leader of Ottoman Empire, which prevailed as a world power for over 600 years.
After Osman Ghazi conquered Bilecik
Bilecik
-External links:* http://www.eksisozluk.com/show.asp?t=bilecik%20diye%20bir%20yerin%20asl%C4%B1nda%20olmamas%C4%B1%20 Bilecik Conspiracy* http://www.bilecikaktuel.com* * http://www.voyagerbook.com/eng/iller/11/11.asp*...
, Edebali retired to his lodge where he continued his religious propagation. It is noted however that Edebali continued to participate in battles with Osman Ghazi. Edebali lived until the age of 120, although birth records were hardly kept at that time. Malhun Hatun, died only a month after her father. Edebali's tomb is still in his lodge at Bilecik.
Advice to Osman Ghazi
Edebali's advice to his son in law, Osman Ghazi, is very important to understand given that the message was carried about by subsequent Ottoman rulers. Edebali's words shaped and developed Ottoman administration and rule for many centuries.In one famous declaration, Edebali told Osman:
O my son!
Now you are king!
From now on, wrath is for us;
for you, calm!
For us to be offended;
for you to please!
For us to accuse;
for you to endure!
For us, helplessness and error;
for you, tolerance!
For us, quarrel;
for you, justice!
For us, envy, rumor, slander;
for you, forgiveness!
O my son!
From now on, it is for us to divide;
for you to unite!
For us, sloth;
for you, warning and encouragement!
O my son!
Be patient, a flower does not bloom before its time.
Never forget: Let man flourish, and the state will also flourish!
O my son!
Your burden is heavy, your task hard, your power hangs on a hair!
May God be your helper!