İsmail Hakkı Bursevi on the 300th Anniversary of His Passing

The Great Islamic thinker, Celveti sheikh, commentator, and poet İsmail Hakkı Bursevi is being commemorated on the 300th anniversary of his passing. At the panel held at IZU, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Erol Kılıç and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Özel discussed Bursevi's scholarly, mystical, and literary legacy.

The panel titled "İsmail Hakkı Bursevi on the 300th Anniversary of His Passing", organized by the Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Sufi Studies Research Center (İSTAM), took place at the Abdullah Tivnikli Conference Hall. Moderated by Prof. Dr. Hasan Kamil Yılmaz, Dean of IZU Faculty of Islamic Sciences, the panel hosted IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Mahmut Erol Kılıç and Istanbul Medeniyet University faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Özel.

ACAR: "BURSEVİ İS A GUIDING NORTH STAR"
Speaking at the opening of the panel, IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar described İsmail Hakkı Bursevi as "a figure who guides us like a North Star in Today's darkness." Acar said: "İsmail Hakkı Bursevi represents the profile of what the ancients called 'double-winged'. He was well-versed in rational sciences while also being one of the leading figures in spiritual sciences. Recognizing such figures is an expression of respect for the spiritual heritage they left behind." 

YILMAZ: ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC OTTOMAN SCHOLARS
Prof. Dr. Hasan Kamil Yılmaz, Dean of IZU Faculty of Islamic Sciences, emphasized that Bursevi was among the most prolific Ottoman authors. Calling him "a man of balance and a profound Sufi,"  Yılmaz noted that Bursevî masterfully used both Arabic and Turkish, and that his tafsir Ruh al-Bayan is considered a significant work among Ottoman scholars.

KILIÇ: “SUFISM LIES AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE SCIENCES”
Prof. Dr. Mahmut Erol Kılıç began by reminding the audience that Sufism was traditionally considered the foundation of all sciences in the pre-modern world. He pointed out that the modern era detached itself from this princible, leading to the claim that each discipline stands on its own. Addressing Bursevi's detailed treatment of the concept of inner/esoteric politics, Kılıç said this perspective offered a Sufi conceptual framework for understanding Ottoman state structure. He added that Bursevî’s writings across different fields should not be seen as scattered:
“In their world of meaning, all sciences serve the same purpose. A life or human being without meaning is unimaginable. Spiritual sciences give meaning to concepts. What makes us who we are is this meaning. The role of prophets and saints is to breathe meaning back into souls and remind us of the true essence of religions that risk remaining mere rituals.”

ÖZEL: “BURSEVÎ IS A RIPE FRUIT OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE”
Discussing Bursevî’s poetic dimension, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Murat Özel stated that Bursevî, as a scholar, commentator, Sufi, traveler, and poet, left behind a rich corpus. “Born in the mid-1600s, during the Ottoman Empire’s stagnation period, Bursevî is a ripe fruit of the Ottoman intellectual tradition,” he said. Özel emphasized that themes of love and spiritual guidance stand out in his poetry, and that everyday details within his verses offer valuable biographical insights.

The program concluded with a musical performance in which ilahis composed from Bursevî’s poems were sung by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Öncel, Chair of IZU Music Education Department.