Saints and Tombs of Bolu

Omar Dede Sikkini (Bichakchi Omar Dede)

A Sufi regarded as the founding master (pir) of the Malami branch of the Bayramiyya. His birth date is unknown; sources differ between Göynük and Bursa as his birthplace. The earliest source is Abdurrahman al-Askari's Mir'at al-Ishq; he was popularly known as Bichakchi Emir Dede, and the name "Omar" was first recorded by Tashköprizade. His byname "Sikkini" comes from his craft of knife-making. He is held to have entered Sufism in the circle of Somunju Baba in Bursa and completed his path under Haji Bayram Wali, becoming his khalifa; after his master's death he settled in Göynük. According to legend, a disagreement with Akshamsaddin over outward tokens such as the crown and cloak led him to step into fire wearing them — only the tokens burned. His renunciation of outward insignia is counted as the beginning of Bayrami-Malamism. He died in 880/1475 in Göynük, where his octagonal freestanding tomb stands; his path was continued by his khalifa Bünyamin Ayashi. (Sources: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam; Dictionary of Names in Turkish Literature; Culture Portal.)

Dawud al-Khalwati of Mudurnu

Shaykh of the Khalwati order; author of the Gülşen-i Tevhid , in which he expounded Sufi questions in verse. He was born in the district of Mudurnu in Bolu. He studied in Baghdad. After his studies he went to Amasya and took initiation from Habib Karamani (d. 902/1497), one of the deputies of Sayyid Yahya-yi Shirwani. Some time later his shaykh sent him to Mudurnu to spread the Khalwatiyya. Dawud-i Khalwati, who appears to have been one of the important scholars and shaykhs of his time, enjoyed great esteem with the İsfendiyaroğulları . This is clearly shown by the fact that the emir Ahmed known as Kızıl Ahmed — brother and rival of İsmail Bey, ruler of the İsfendiyaroğulları — asked him to write a work explaining certain Sufi questions. He died at Mudurnu in 913 (1507). His Works — Gülşen-i Tevhid : according to Taşköprizade, this large book, composed in a mixture of Turkish and Arabic, was much in favour among the people of the Sufi path. A quarter of the work is devoted to the subject of the atwar-i sab'a (seven stages); in the other sections, together with certain Qur'anic verses and hadiths, sayings of 'Ali and of famous Sufis such as Abu Sa'id ibn Abi'l-Khayr, Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi, Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-'Arabi, Mawlana Jalal al-Din, Sayyid Yahya-yi Shirwani and Habib Karamani are translated and commented upon. The translations and commentaries of these sayings, taken as headings, are in verse. Written mostly in the mathnawi form, the work contains here and there qasida s, ghazal s and quatrains; it also includes stories on Sufi-ethical subjects. The work was introduced to the scholarly world by Necati Elgin on the basis of a copy dated 1042 (1633) in the Library of the Mevlana Museum in Konya. A copy made in 913 (1507), the year of the author's death, and another copy of unknown date are in the Süleymaniye Library.

Sheikh Mehmed Talui Efendi

Born in Mudurnu in 1689, a sheikh of the Nasuhiyye branch of the Halvetiyye order; he studied in Istanbul under Nasuhi Efendi and his son Ali Efendi and became sheikh of the Halveti lodge in 1742. He returned to Mudurnu late in life. He died in 1170/1757; his tomb is in the courtyard of the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Mosque. (Sources: 'Mudurnu'da Tasavvuf' article; Mudurnu District Governorate tomb inventory)

Abdullah Efendi of Gerede

A late-19th-century Halveti spiritual guide from Gerede; one of the leading deputies of his sheikh Mustafa Safi Efendi, he succeeded to the office of guidance after the latter's death. Sources note that despite lacking formal exoteric education he excelled in esoteric knowledge. He was buried in the cell of his lodge in Gerede, over which a tomb was later built. (Sources: Evliyâlar Ansiklopedisi; Menâkıb-ı Hacı Mustafa Sâfî, Millet Library, Ali Emîrî no. 1111)

Kemal Ümmi (Ummi Kemal)

A 15th-century Sufi-poet whose real name was İsmail; he used the pen name 'Ümmi Kemal' as he had no formal schooling. Affiliated with the Halvetiyye, he guided the people around Bolu. Known for his Divan and the mesnevis Kırk Armağan and Hazîre-i Kuds; his followers were called Kemalites. He died in 880/1475; his tomb is in Tekke (Işıklar) village southeast of Bolu. (Sources: TDV 'Kemal Ümmî'; Türk Edebiyatı İsimler Sözlüğü) [burial disputed: TDV regards Bolu as most credible]

Sheikh Fahreddin al-Rumi of Mudurnu

A scholar and Sufi of the Yıldırım Bayezid era who settled in Mudurnu and trained students. He authored works including Müştemilü'l-ahkâm, ed-Daavâtü'l-me'sûre and Ferâidü'l-leâlî. He died in 864/1460 in Mudurnu; his grave is reported near the door of the Yıldırım Bayezid (Great) Mosque (per local tradition; may be disputed). (Sources: evliyalar.net 'Fahreddin Rûmî'; İslâm Âlimleri Ansiklopedisi)

Khayr al-Dīn al-Tūqādī (Hayreddin Tokadi)

Shaykh

A Halvetî sheikh; the guide of Şâbân-ı Velî , the pîr of the Şâbâniyye branch of the Halvetiyye. There is some confusion in the sources about his identity: he has been mistaken for another Hayreddin Efendi from Tokat. He was trained under Cemâl-i Halvetî (d. 899/1494), known as Çelebi Halife, the founder of the Cemâliyye branch of the Halvetiyye. After serving briefly at the Koca Mustafa Paşa lodge in Istanbul he was sent to Bolu. He carried on the work of spiritual guidance at Bolu and Düzce Pazar. He died after 937 (1530). His Circle of Influence — The best known disciple he trained is Şâbân-ı Velî , the founder of the Şâbâniyye branch of the Halvetiyye. He also had such disciples as Muslihuddîn-i Konrapavî and Mahmûd-ı Kürevî. His Tomb and Complex — A tomb attributed to him is found in the village of Elmalık, thirteen kilometres from Bolu; commemorative ceremonies with wide participation are held there during the summer months.