İbrâhim Efendi — Saçlızâde es-Seyyid el-Hâc

In Modern English

He was the son of the mufti of Amasya, Saçlı Hacı Mahmûd Efendi. After acquiring a measure of learning, while serving as the last deputy of the nakîbüleşraf (kaymakam) of Amasya, he died at the end of 1297 [October-November 1880]. He was an extremely pleasant conversationalist, witty, one who made people laugh; his comic remarks and ways are widespread among the people. His sons are Ahmed Fethi, Mehmed and Abdullah Efendi. Ahmed Fethi Efendi also died in 1313 [1895-96]. Another person, Mengülcüzâde Hacı İbrâhim Efendi, son of Mufti Yahya Efendi, also died in 1298 [1880-81]. He too was a man of Saçlızâde's caliber. The saying "Çözük saç, kırık mengül" was said about these two.

Notes and Research

Old Words in the Text

• nakîbü'l-eşrâf kâ'im-makâmı: the deputy in a city of the nakîbüleşraf, who looked after the affairs of the descendants of the Prophet (seyyids and sharifs)
• evâhir: the last days of a year or month
• latîf: pleasant, jocular; nekre-gû: one who tells witty remarks
• şâyi': widespread, passing from tongue to tongue
• fevt olmak: to die
• a'yâr: caliber, grade; "of Saçlızâde's caliber," that is, of the same nature as he

The Deputy Office of the Nakîbüleşraf

The deputy office of the nakîbüleşraf, İbrâhim Efendi's last post, was the provincial representation of the organization that handled the affairs of the seyyids and sharifs, that is, those regarded as descended from the Prophet, in the Ottoman state. The Ottoman nakîbüleşrafs resided in Istanbul; in other cities there were deputies of the nakîbüleşraf chosen for a fixed term from among the sâdât (the descendants of the Prophet). The organization's duties are counted as keeping the records of those belonging to the Prophet's line, protecting their rights, and preventing confusion of lineage and false claims of descent. The deputy office of the nakîbüleşraf was a source of considerable influence and material income. The deputy's being chosen from among the sâdât also accords with the fact that in the heading of the entry İbrâhim Efendi is called by the title "es-Seyyid."

Hüsameddin's introducing İbrâhim Efendi as the "last" deputy of the nakîbüleşraf of Amasya is noteworthy. The text does not explain the reason; it seems that after İbrâhim Efendi this post was given to no one in Amasya or that the institution's representation in the city was abolished, but no other source confirming this was found.

Saçlızâde and Mengülcüzâde

The second half of the entry records a saying in which the people of Amasya mention two witty notables together. Both were sons of muftis: one of Mufti Saçlı Hacı Mahmûd Efendi, the other of Mufti Yahya Efendi. Both died at close dates, in 1880-81. The saying "Çözük saç, kırık mengül" is a wordplay built on the names of the two families: "saç" (hair) points to Saçlızâde, "mengül" (a hair ring or curl) to Mengülcüzâde. Hüsameddin does not tell on what occasion the saying was spoken; it appears that it circulated among the people to tease these two, who were known for their jocular temperaments.

The name of Mufti Saçlı Hacı Mahmûd Efendi occurs in other entries of Hüsameddin's work as well. No information was found in other sources about the families of Saçlızâde and Mengülcüzâde, about İbrâhim Efendi's witticisms, or about this saying.

Bibliography

• Abdîzâde Hüseyin Hüsâmeddîn Yasar, Amasya Tarihi, Amasya Belediyesi Kültür Yayınları, 2022, vol. 6, p. 77. amasya.bel.tr
• TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, entry "Nakîbüleşraf" (islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/nakibulesraf).