Nef’î’s real name was Ömer. He was born around 1572 in Hasankale, a district in Erzurum. His father, Mehmed Bey, was also a poet. When his father had to go to Crimea for some reason, Nef’î’s family became very poor. Nef’î started writing poems at a young age and became a great poet. At first, he used the name “Darrî” in his poems, but a friend later gave him the name “Nef’î.”

Adventure in Istanbul

During the reign of Sultan Ahmed I (1603–1617), Nef’î went to Istanbul. There, he wrote poems praising the sultan, called kasides. These poems caught the sultan’s attention, and Nef’î quickly gained important positions and became a famous poet in Istanbul. However, he sometimes wrote harsh poems criticizing others, which caused problems for him.

Satirical Poems and Conflicts

Nef’î’s most famous skill was writing satirical poems that criticized people. He used very sharp words in these poems, which sometimes put him in danger. According to a story, Sultan Murad IV once read Nef’î’s book, and a lightning bolt struck while he was reading. The sultan thought it was a bad omen and banned Nef’î from writing satirical poems. But Nef’î continued writing them anyway.

^{First page of Nef'i's poetry book. (https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/nefi)}

The End of His Life

Nef’î’s satirical poems made many people angry. Finally, Sultan Murad IV decided to punish him because of these poems. In 1635, Nef’î was executed.

His Works and Art

Nef’î was a poet who wrote very beautiful and powerful poems. His poems were both impressive and sharp. He wrote kasides (praise poems) and gazels (emotional poems). The kasides were meant to be read in a bold voice, while the gazels were written to be sung in a warm and joyful style.

Main Works:

• Türkçe Divan: A collection of his Turkish poems.
• Farsça Divan: A collection of his Persian poems.
• Sihâm-ı Kazâ: A collection of his satirical poems.

Nef’î’s Legacy

Nef’î is remembered as an unforgettable poet and personality. His poems are still read today, and many people study them to understand his art and talent.