AMASYA 05

Abdîzâde Hüseyin Hüsâmeddîn Yasar · İKİNCİ BÂB · İKİNCİ FASIL

Bâyezîd Çelebi (Şeyhü'l-kurrâ)

Encyclopedia · History of Amasya, Volume 7, p. 403 • Edited by: Prof. Dr. Safi ARPAGUŞ- Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakkı TURABİ

Original Text (Ottoman Turkish)

Sivaslıdır. Yûsuf mahdûmu olup orada ba’de’t-tahsîl ilm-i kırâ’atte üstâd-ı mâhir oldu. 803’de Topal Timur Hân’ın Sivas’ı istîlâ ve tahrîbi esnâsında kaçıp Amasya’ya can atdı. Burada ders-i âm, şeyhü’l-kurrâ ve imâm olduğu hâlde 838 sâline doğru vefât etdi. Meşâhîr-i kurrâ ve ulemâdan idi.

Our Research Article Editor: Mevlüt Erdem Öztürk

In Modern English

He is a native of Sivas. He is the son of Yûsuf; after completing his studies there he became a master teacher of the science of Qur'anic recitation. In 803 [1400-01], when Timur the Lame Khan seized and destroyed Sivas, he fled and took refuge in Amasya. Here, giving public lectures and serving as şeyhülkurrâ and imam, he died around 838 [1434-35]. He was one of the famous masters of recitation and of the scholars.

Notes and Research

Old Words in the Text

  • mahdûm: son
  • ba'de't-tahsîl: after his studies
  • ilm-i kırâat: the science that studies the modes of reciting the Qur'an
  • üstâd-ı mâhir: master teacher
  • istîlâ: seizing, occupation
  • tahrîb: destroying, laying waste
  • ders-i âm: giving public lectures, general lecturer
  • şeyhü'l-kurrâ: sheikh of the masters of recitation, a scholar who teaches the science of recitation and is prominent in his region
  • meşâhîr-i kurrâ: famous masters of recitation

The State of Sivas in 1400

After the death of Kadı Burhâneddin (1398), the notables of Sivas surrendered the city to Bayezid I; for this reason Sivas became one of Timur's first targets in Anatolia. The city was besieged and taken (1400), its important structures, especially the walls, were largely destroyed, and it suffered heavy damage physically, demographically and economically. The year 803 [1400-01] given by Hüsameddin agrees with this event. Bâyezîd Çelebi's coming from Sivas to Amasya may be assessed as a migration in these years of Sivas's destruction (inference); the text does not say whether other scholars or families came with him.

What Being a Şeyhülkurrâ Means

Şeyhülkurrâ is a term used for scholars who teach the science of recitation and are prominent in their region through their expertise in it; more than one şeyhülkurrâ may exist in one city. In which mosque or with what duty Bâyezîd Çelebi held this title in Amasya, and where he served as imam, is not written in Hüsameddin. The year of death is likewise given only approximately, "around 838". No information on this person was found in other sources.

Bibliography

Primary sources

  • Abdîzâde Hüseyin Hüsâmeddîn Yasar, Amasya Tarihi, Amasya Belediyesi Kültür Yayınları, 2022, vol. 7, p. 403–403. amasya.bel.tr

Academic studies

Volume 7 contents