Ahmediye - احمديه

This volume contains a didactic mesnevi on Islamic ethics and doctrine, by the poet Ahmed ibn-i Osman ed-Diyarbekiri, known as Ahmed Mürşidi (died 1174 AH/1760 CE). The work was widely read in the author's time and in subsequent periods. The text has sometimes been incorrectly attributed to Ahmed Bican (died after 870 AH/1466 CE). Ahmed Mürşidi was born in 1100 AH/ 1688-9 CE in Diyarbakir and was orphaned at a young age. He undertook his medrese education in the city, and attached himself to a şeyh of the Uşşaki Halveti tarikat, Birecikli Ebu Bekir Efendi. He also undertook the hajj. He lived most of his life in the village of Ali Pınarı, located approximately one hour's distance from Diyarbakir. He carried a message of moral, spiritual, and intellectual reform, and wrote in plain Ottoman Turkish in order to communicate this message to a wider audience. He died and was buried in Ali Pınarı in 1174 AH/1760 CE. The Ahmediye consists of more than 9500 beyitler, in plain language and with little use of Arabic and Persian. On the other hand, commonly used idioms, proverbs, and sayings are used frequently and to considerable effect. The author targets certain practices, among them smoking, use of illicit wealth, and playing the saz instrument. He frequently cites stories and events from the lives of the Prophets and the saints in order to bring to light praiseworthy morals and virtues, and to urge people towards a more pious existence. There work contains individual kasideler on the present world, the grave, the Day of Judgment, the Quran, and the Prophet Muhammad. The work is not organised in a standard format, but is rather organised as a series of mebhaslar (subjects of investigation/discussion) preceded by an introduction. Among these are:. (f 85r) Mebhas-i sehavet (On generosity); (95v) Mebhas-i misafir (On being and receiving travellers/visitors); (102r) Mebhas-i ihanet (On betrayal and treachery); (106r) Mebhas-i tahammül ve rıza (On patience and being content with God's will); (113r) Mebhas-i gıybet (On slander); (116v) Mebhas-i fahr (On pride); (163r) Mebhas-i 'ucb (On vanity and conceit, especially in worship); (133v) Mebhas-i kibir (On arrogance); (145r) Ma'asiden içtinap (On avoiding disobedience to God); (155r) Fi beyan-ı Mebhas Taleb-i Dua ve Isti'anet (On requesting prayers and seeking assistance); (165v) Mebhas-i Hamt ü Şükür (On praising God and being thankful to Him); (172r) Mebhas-i Nüfus-i Tis'a (On the typologies of the self/soul); (178v) Kiraat-i mevta (On reciting Quran for the dead); (188r) Mebhas-i Çeşm-i nerm [?] (On the shameless eye); (192v) Zikrullah (On remembrance of God); (197v) Mebhas-i Aşk-ı İlahi (On love for God); (199r) Şurb-ı duhan (On smoking); (206r) Işku'n-Nebi (On love for the Prophet); (213v) Mebhas-i Salavat-ı şerif (On sending blessings on the Prophet); (217v) Mucijat-i enbiya (On the miracles of the prophets); (218r) Keramet-i evliya (On the miracles of the saints); (220v) Ahkam-ı İlm-i Simya (On the regulations of alchemy); (221r) Ahkam-ı ilm-i Sihr (On the regulations of magic); (221v) Mebhas-i Medh-i ümmet (On love for the umma); (229v) Mebhas-i Muhabbet-i Ulema (On love for scholars of Islam); (236r) Mebhas-i İmdad-ı ilm (On being of service to sacred knowledge); (237r) Mebhas-i fikrü'l-mevt (On contemplating death); (242v) Mebhas-i Kabir (On the grave); (247r) Mebhas-i Rüz-ı kıyamet (On the Day of Resurrection); (254v) Mahşer ve Mizan (On the final judgment and the place of gathering for it); (262r) Tetimme-i kitap (Conclusion); Begins (1v):. Besmele ola işin ibtidası / onun avniyle olur intihası * Ezel zat-ı sıfatiyle mükemmel / gerek ki zikir oluna ism-i evvel. Ends (263r-v):. Okuyanı dinleyeni yananı / Yarlıgar rahmet […] * […]'ye her kim ederse dua / Rahmeti hak ona kılsın dua * Fatiha'yla kim bizi yad eyleye / Halikı narından azat eyleye, Temmet…. The copy can be dated to the late 12th century AH/18th century CE.

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On the Ahmediye, see Seydi Türkeri, 'Ahmed Mürşidî'nin Ahmediyesi (tenkitli metin, 5094 beyitten sonraki 4463 beyit)' (MA Dissertation, İnönü Üniversitesi, 1999). The main source for Ahmed Mürşidi's biography is Ali Emîrî Efendi, Tezkire-i Şuʻarâ-yı Amid (Istanbul, 1327 [1909]), 424.

The work was lithographed in Istanbul: Diyarbakırlı Ahmed Mürşidi, Kitab-ı Mürşid-i Pend-i Ahmediye (İstanbul, 1304 [1886]). This can be found at the British Library (UIN: BLL01018357699). For further editions see Pend-i Ahmedî Kitâb-i Mürşid, edited and simplified by Agâh Güçlü (İstanbul: Tan Gazetesi ve Matbaası, 1968); Ahmediyye, 2 volumes, edited by M. Faruk Gürtunca (Istanbul: Ülkü Kitapyurdu, 1973); Kitab-i Mürşid-i Pend-i Ahmediyye, edited by Hüseyin Rahmi Yananlı (Istanbul: Bedir Yayinevi, 2011). A commentary of the work can be found at Melih Yuluğ, Ahmediyye şerhi (Istanbul: Doyuran Matbaası, 1979).