Molla Hüsrev

Molla Hüsrev, whose real name was Muhammed bin Feramuz, was born in the village of Kargın between Sivas and Tokat; the year of his birth is unknown. Because he grew up with his brother-in-law Hüsrev Bey, he was called "Hüsrev's relative by marriage," and in time he became known by the name "Molla Hüsrev." After studying religious knowledge under Burhâneddîn Haydar Hirevî and other scholars of his age, he taught as a professor (müderris) at the Şâh Melik and Çelebî madrasas in Edirne. In 1429 (AH 832) he was appointed to the office of qādī al-ʿaskar (chief military judge) and continued in this duty during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. During the developments concerning the throne of Sultan Murad II, he chose to go to Manisa in order to accompany Prince Mehmed; when the Conqueror ascended the throne again, he returned to Istanbul and was appointed to the judgeships of Galata and Üsküdar and to the professorship of Hagia Sophia. In 1460 (AH 865) he was appointed to the office of Shaykh al-Islām and carried out this duty for twenty years. He is described as a man of medium height, with a thick beard, imposing in bearing and possessed of humility; he loved solitude, swept his own room, and lit his own lamp. The Conqueror esteemed him, saying "the Abū Hanīfa of our age." A valuable scholar of fiqh who trained many students and was also a poet, Molla Hüsrev made it his habit to write two pages every day, and left behind many fine works in his own handwriting. His most important work is the Durar al-Hukkām, which was taught as a textbook in the Ottoman madrasas. He passed away in 1480 (AH 885) in Istanbul; after his funeral prayer was performed at the Fâtih Mosque, he was taken to Bursa and buried in the garden of the madrasa he himself had built, to the east of Emir Sultan's grave.