Who is Akşemseddin?

The Light of Science, Spirituality, and Conquest

Akşemseddin, whose full name is Muhammad Shamseddin ibn Hamza, was born in Damascus in 1389 and migrated to Anatolia with his family at an early age. Some sources trace his lineage back to Abu Bakr. He was a multifaceted scholar whose contributions in both religious and scientific domains stood out during the formative and ascending years of the Ottoman State. He served as both the teacher and spiritual guide of Fatih Sultan Mehmet.

Educational Journey and Development

Akşemseddin received his initial education from his father and later studied Arabic, jurisprudence, hadith, theology, medicine, and mathematics at leading madrasas across Anatolia. Even in his youth, he earned the title of “müderris” (madrasa instructor). However, he sought to deepen his knowledge beyond formal madrasa education by embracing Sufism. For this reason, he became a disciple of Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, from whom he acquired both spiritual training and an awareness of living in close connection with the people.

The Sufi approach he embraced emphasized unity with the masses, integration of science with spirituality, and the transformation of both the individual and society. Before his death, Hacı Bayram-ı Veli appointed Akşemseddin as his successor.

Scientific and Medical Contributions

One of Akşemseddin’s most remarkable traits was his development of ideas far ahead of his time. His observations on the concept of microbes hold a significant place in the history of science. His assertion that “diseases are caused by invisible living organisms” was made approximately 400 years before Louis Pasteur, one of the founders of modern microbiology.

In one of his most important works, “Maddetü’l-Hayat”, he examined the modes of disease transmission, herbal treatment methods, and patterns of illness spread, integrating medical knowledge with Sufi thought.

Another key work, “Risaletü’n-Nuriyye”, focuses on the process of understanding the human self. This text serves both as a moral instruction manual and as a profound exploration of mental and spiritual well-being.

Additionally, he produced empirical knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants and the effects of natural resources such as water and air on health. In this regard, he can be said to have developed an early scientific sensitivity in the fields of botany and environmental health.

Relationship with Fatih Sultan Mehmet

Among the teachers who influenced Fatih Sultan Mehmet’s education, Akşemseddin left the deepest impression. The young prince was a difficult student—intelligent, inquisitive, and deeply skeptical. When other teachers proved inadequate, Akşemseddin stepped in. He guided Fatih not only through scholarly instruction but also through ethical, philosophical, and historical modes of thinking.

(Generated by artificial intelligence) Akşemseddin and his student Fatih Sultan Mehmet

Akşemseddin also played an active role during the conquest of Istanbul. During the siege, he delivered powerful speeches that boosted the morale of the army, encouraged perseverance in the sultan, and spiritually sustained the population. After the conquest, he advised the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque—a recommendation of great symbolic importance for the conquest.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet strongly urged Akşemseddin to remain in Istanbul after the conquest, but he chose a life free from ostentation and returned to Göynük. There, he continued educating the public and training students.

References:

• Özdamarlar, Metin. Akşemseddin: The Teacher of Fatih, The Light of Science. Düşün Yayıncılık, 2017.
• Şentürk, Ahmet. Akşemseddin and the Theory of Infectious Diseases in Turkish Medical History.
• Uzunçarşılı, İsmail Hakkı. Ottoman History, Volume 2.
• Istanbul University Faculty of Letters. Science and Education Traditions in the Ottoman Era.
• Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Turkish Scholars series.
• Göynük Municipality Official Archives. “Akşemseddin Festival Information Brochure”.