The whole world including Pakistanis is mourning the death of Turkish Islamic scholar Sheikh Mahmud Effendi.
Turkey’s most influential Islamic scholar Sheikh Mahmud Effendi recently passed away at the age of 93. He had been in intensive care for a while due to kidney disease. Let’s have a look at the life of the most influential Islamic scholar.
Who is Sheikh Mahmud Effendi?
Born in the district of Of Trabzon. Mahmut Ustaosmanoğlu, also known as Mahmud Effendi, became a hafiz (one who has memorised the Qur’an) at the tender age of 6. He then started studying Arabic and Persian, and then went on to study the Islamic Sciences.
He was appointed imam of the Ismail Agha mosque in Istanbul in 1954, where he remained until he retired in 1996.
Emergence
In 1952, Effendi met Ahıskalı Ali Haydar Efendi (Gürbüzler), a Naqshbandi sheikh who became his murshid. Ali Haydar Efendi appointed him as the imam of the İsmailağa Mosque in 1954.
By the year 1960, Effendi’s life had its greatest turn after Ali Haydar Efendi’s demise and he became the leader of the path (tariqa). In 1996, he retired as the imam of the İsmailağa Musjid.
Why was he famous?
Sheikh Mahmud Effendi spent all of his life in the service of Islam and in a 50-year time frame, he revived Islam and the Sunnah in Turkey and taught thousands of Ulamah and Huffadh.
Effendi began delivering Islamic lectures and guidance in 1960 following the death of his Shaikh Ali Haydar Effendi.
He devoted three weeks per year to teaching people across Turkey and made several educational tours in several countries, including Uzbekistan, India, Germany, and the United States. He has a Qur’an tafsir (commentary) named Ruhu’l Furkan in Turkish.
Million followers
The Sheikh Effendi has millions of followers and established many charitable, social, and religious organizations, including the Marifet Association, the Federation of Marifet Associations, and the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah Confederation. Based on sincerity, he stressed service to humanity.
Imran Khan’s condolence
PTI Chairman Imran Khan extended his condolences on Sheikh Mahmud Effendi’s death.
Innā li-Llāhi wa inna ilayhi rāji’ūn.
Saddened to learn of the passing of Shaykh Mahmud Effendi of Turkey. He revived Islam & Sunnah at a challenging time, inspiring millions of people in #Turkey & around the World.
A great loss for the Ummah.— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 23, 2022