Aziz Mahmud Hüdâyi (Book)

Aziz Mahmud Hüdâyî is a biographical and intellectual study prepared by Mehmet Ali Ayni. Published in November 2024 as part of Dergâh Publications' Contemporary Turkish Thought series, the work takes a multifaceted approach to the life, scholarly activities, and literary pursuits of Aziz Mahmud Hüdâyî, a leading figure of the Ottoman Sufi tradition.

The book addresses Hüdâyî’s life in the 16th and 17th centuries within its specific context. His madrasah education, his activities in Şereflikoçhisar and Üsküdar, his founding of the Celvetî order, his contributions to the Divan poetry tradition, and his influence during the reigns of Sultan Ahmed I and Sultan Murad III are presented on a chronological and biographical plane. The work also provides an analytical perspective on how he was integrated into the Republican-era discourse of "Turkish Saints."

• Order and Doctrine: The founding mission of the Celvetî order and Hüdâyî's internal reforms are explained.
• Poet and Divine Voice: Hüdâyî's Sufi style and linguistic richness in Divan poetry are examined.
• Sufi Lodges and Social Life: The place of Sufi lodges (tekke) in Ottoman society and the effects of Hüdâyî's ideas on daily life are explored.
• Construction of Modern Identity: The transitions between ideology and cultural policies in his re-presentation as a "Turkish Saint" during the Republican era are discussed.

Mehmet Ali Ayni designed the study as a comprehensive analysis at the intersection of historical and textual dimensions. In recounting Hüdâyî's life story, the author uses source texts, examples of poetry, institutional analyses, and documents from the period. The author’s approach demonstrates scholarly consistency, and the work presents a cohesive whole that is significant for both the general public and academia.