Çerkes Halil Efendi

Çerkes Halil Efendi
Çerkes Halil Efendi
Personal life
Born	Seyyid Mehmed Salih[citation needed]
Died	1821; Istanbul, Ottoman Empire
Nationality	Ottoman
Known for	Refusing to approve a fatwa for the massacre of Greeks
Occupation	Sheikh ul-Islam

Çerkes Halil Efendi (Halil Efendi the Circassian) or Hacı Halil Efendi (Halil Efendi the Hajji) was an 18th- and 19th-century Ottoman government official and scholar. He was şeyhülislam for about 19 months.

Early life

Halil was the son of the Circassian wetnurse of Mustafa III’s daughter Hibetullah Sultan. At his mother’s request, Halil was brought from Circassia as a child and grew up in the imperial harem with Mustafa III’s son Selim.^[1]

Adult career

During the reign of Abdulhamid I, from 1774 to 1789, Halil was transferred to the Treasury Ward of the palace and so was separated from Selim for about fifteen years.^[2]

When Selim became sultan in 1789, Halil was appointed steward (kethüdâ) of the treasury. Around this time, Selim apparently also gave him the Circassian woman Zîbâ Hanım (former concubine (müstefreşe) of Hoca Abdullah Ağa) as odalisque (odalık). At some point, Halil married Zîbâ. Halil also seems to have had a second wife, Züleyha, and two concubines, Nazende and Seyyare.^[3]^[4]

In 1801, Halil left the palace to join the Galata Mevlevi order and become a religious scholar. In 1803, he performed the hajj and was given the title of kadı of Mecca. On his return, he was given the title of kadı of Istanbul, and soon after, kazasker of Anatolia. In 1809, he was given the title of kazasker of Rumelia. He participated in the imperial consultative assembly (meclis-i meşveret) under the title of kazasker. In 1813, he became the kazasker of Rumelia in fact, but was dismissed in 1819.^[5]^[6]

On September 3, 1819, he was appointed şeyhülislam. Halil was said to have had a hard temperament, to have been outspoken, but to have had a deep knowledge of tafsir, hadith, and other religious sciences.^[7]

During his time in office, Halil had disputes with Hâlet Efendi, who was influential with the sultan at the time, Mahmud II. During a consultation regarding the Greek rebellion of 1821, an argument broke out between Halil and Hâlet, concerning how much responsibility Hâlet held for the rebellion, leading to an exchange of insults. After this, Halil’s wife Zîbâ encountered Hâlet’s wife Lebibe Hatun in a park (mesire) in Beylerbeyi and tried to discuss the argument, but this led to a fight between the two women.^[8]^[9]

According to an 1852 account from a Greek newspaper in Istanbul, in 1821 Mahmud II wanted to take revenge on the Greeks and asked for a fatwa from Halil authorizing the killing or capture of the Orthodox Christians still remaining in the Ottoman Empire. When he learned of this, Patriarch Gregory V visited Halil, who asked for proof that only a few Greeks were involved and not the entire nation. Gregory convened the Holy Synod to promulgate an excommunication of those involved in the uprising. This convinced Halil that the entire nation was not guilty and thus he refused to issue the desired fatwa, arguing that the Quran required the sultan to separate the innocent from the guilty. According to this source, this refusal led the sultan to exile and execute or assassinate Halil.^[10]

Halil was dismissed as şeyhülislam on March 28, 1821 and was put under house arrest in his yalı in Beylerbeyi. The next day, he and Zîbâ were exiled to Bursa. Halil’s steward, Hacı Sadık Efendi, was exiled to Rhodes. On May 16, on the grounds that Halil was in communication with Istanbul, Hâlet had Halil exiled to Karahisar-ı Sahib. Halil took a staff of ten with him, including three cooks and one groom (seyis). Some time later, his concubines were also sent to him; Zîbâ, however, had to remain in Bursa.^[11]^[12]

Meanwhile, Hâlet had a black lamb with its mouth sewn shut buried in the stable of Halil’s Istanbul mansion. Hâlet then had the dead lamb, supposedly found by chance, sent to the palace, leading to the accusation that Zibâ was practicing witchcraft. Hâlet was thus able to have Zîbâ strangled and have her naked corpse thrown into a thicket or some bushes (çalılık).^[13]^[14]

Death and burial

On receiving the news of his wife’s death, Halil became ill, was paralyzed, and died soon after, in Karahisar on August 2 (or 12), 1821. He was buried next to the Gedik Ahmed Paşa Mosque in Karahisar (now Afyon).^[15]^[16]

Legacy

Halil left behind a sizable estate.^[17]

Halil trained many students, including Sahaflar Şeyhizâde Mehmed Esad Efendi.^[18]

Halil is said to have established well-funded foundations for early morning Quran reading in Eyüp Mosque during Ramadan in memory of himself and his wife and for an annual mevlit reading in the palace Treasury Ward. He is also said to have done charitable works in the Hijaz.^[19]^[20]

References

^ İpşirli, Mehmet (1997). "Halil Efendi, Çerkez". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi. TDV İslâm Araştırmaları Merkezi. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Edip (2018). "Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi" [A Portrait from the Ottoman Ilmiye Corps: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi and His Estate]. History Studies (in Turkish). 10 (8): 179, 182–183, 187–188, 189. doi:10.9737/hist.2018.669. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 178
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, pp. 178–180
^ Chalkiadakis, Emmanouil G. (2017). "Reconsidering the Past: Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V and the Greek Revolution of 1821". Synthesis. 6 (1): 187–188. doi:10.26262/syn.v6i1.6977. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, pp. 180–193
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez
^ Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180

[1] İpşirli, Mehmet (1997). "Halil Efendi, Çerkez". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi. TDV İslâm Araştırmaları Merkezi. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

[2] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[3] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[4] Uzundal, Edip (2018). "Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi" [A Portrait from the Ottoman Ilmiye Corps: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi and His Estate]. History Studies (in Turkish). 10 (8): 179, 182–183, 187–188, 189. doi:10.9737/hist.2018.669. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

[5] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[6] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 178

[7] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[8] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[9] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, pp. 178–180

[10] Chalkiadakis, Emmanouil G. (2017). "Reconsidering the Past: Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory V and the Greek Revolution of 1821". Synthesis. 6 (1): 187–188. doi:10.26262/syn.v6i1.6977. Retrieved 29 October 2024.

[11] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[12] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180

[13] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[14] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180

[15] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[16] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180

[17] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, pp. 180–193

[18] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[19] İpşirli, Halil Efendi, Çerkez

[20] Uzundal, Osmanlı İlmiye Teşkilatından Bir Portre: Şeyhülislam Halil Efendi ve Terekesi, p. 180

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v t e Sheikh-ul-Islams of the Ottoman Empire
15th Century	Molla Fenari Fahreddin-i Acemi Molla Hüsrev Molla Gürâni Molla Abdülkerim Efendi Alâeddin Arabî Efendi Efdalzade Hamîdüddin Efendi
16th Century	Zenbilli Ali Efendi Kemalpaşazade Ahmet Şemsettin Efendi (İbn-i Kemal) Sadullah Sadi Efendi Çivizade Muhiddin Mehmed Efendi Abdülkadir Hamidî Çelebi Fenarîzade Muhyiddin Çelebi Ebussuud Efendi Çivizade Damadı Hamid Efendi Kadızade Ahmed Şemseddin Efendi Malûlzade Mehmed Efendi Çivizade Hacı Mehmed Efendi Abdülkadir Şeyhî Efendi Bostanzade Mehmed Efendi Bayramzade Zekeriya Efendi Hoca Sâdeddin Efendi Cafer Mustafa Sunullah Efendi
17th Century	Hocazade Mehmed Efendi Ebülmeyamin Mustafa Efendi Hocazade Esad Efendi Zekeriyazade Yahya Efendi Ahizade Hüseyin Efendi Ebusaid Mehmed Efendi Muid Ahmet Efendi Hacı Abdürrahim Efendi Bahai Mehmet Efendi Karaçelebizade Abdülaziz Efendi Hüsamzade Abdurrahman Efendi Memikzade Mustafa Efendi Hocazade Mesud Efendi Hanefi Mehmet Efendi Balizade Mustafa Efendi Bolevi Mustafa Efendi Esiri Mehmet Efendi Sunizade Seyit Mehmet Emin Efendi Minkarizade Yahya Efendi Çatalcalı Ali Efendi Ankaravi Mehmet Emin Efendi Debbağzade Mehmet Efendi Feyzullah Efendi Ebusaitzade Feyzullah Feyzi Efendi Sadık Mehmet Efendi İmam Mehmet Efendi
18th Century	Paşmakçızade Ali Efendi Yekçeşm Hüseyin Efendi Sadık Mehmet Efendi Ebezade Abdullah Efendi Mehmed Ataullah Efendi İmam Mahmud Efendi Mirza Mustafa Efendi Menteşzade Abdürrahman Efendi Ebu İshak İsmail Efendi Yenişehirli Abdullah Efendi Mirzazade Şeyh Mehmed Efendi Paşmakçızade Abdullah Efendi Damatzade Ebulhayr Ahmet Efendi Ebuishakzade İshak Efendi Dürri Mehmed Efendi Feyzullahzade Mustafa Efendi Pirizade Mehmed Sahib Efendi Hayatizade Mehmet Emin Efendi Seyit Mehmet Zeynelabidin Efendi Ebuishakzade Mehmed Esad Efendi Mehmed Said Efendi Seyyid Murtaza Efendi Abdullah Vassaf Efendi Damatzade Feyzullah Efendi Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi Mehmed Salih Efendi Çelebizade İsmail Asım Efendi Veliyyüddin Efendi Ebubekirzade Ahmed Efendi Pirizade Osman Sahib Efendi Mirzazade Seyit Mehmet Sait Efendi Şerifzade Seyit Mehmet Şerif Efendi Dürrizade Mustafa Efendi İvazpaşazade İbrahim Bey Efendi Salihzade Mehmet Emin Efendi Vassafzade Mehmet Esat Efendi Mehmet Şerif Efendi Seyit İbrahim Efendi Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Ataullah Efendi İvazpaşazade İbrahim Bey Efendi Arapzade Ahmet Ataullah Efendi Dürrizade Seyit Mehmet Arif Efendi Müftizade Ahmet Efendi Mekkî Mehmet Efendi Seyit Mehmet Kamil Efendi Hamitzade Mustafa Efendi Seyit Yahya Tevfik Efendi Mustafa Aşir Efendi
19th Century	Sâmânizade Ömer Hulusi Efendi Salihzade Ahmed Esad Efendi Şerifzade Ataullah Mehmed Efendi Arapzade Mehmed Arif Efendi Dürrizade Abdullah Efendi Mehmed Zeynelabidin Efendi Mekkizade Mustafa Asım Efendi Çerkes Halil Efendi Yasincizade Abdülvehhab Efendi Ahmed Reşid Efendi Kadızade Mehmed Tahir Efendi Ahmed Arif Hikmet Bey Efendi Meşrepzade Mehmed Arif Efendi Mehmed Sadeddin Efendi Atıfzade Hüsameddin Efendi Mehmed Refik Efendi Hasan Fehmi Efendi Ahmed Muhtar Molla Bey Efendi Turşucuzade Ahmed Muhtar Efendi Hasan Hayrullah Efendi Hasan Fehmi Efendi Hasan Hayrullah Efendi Kara Halil Efendi Uryanizade Ahmed Esad Efendi Bodrumlu Ömer Lütfi Efendi Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi
20th Century	Mehmed Ziyâeddin Efendi Mehmed Sahib Efendi Çelebizade Hüseyin Hüsnü Efendi Musa Kazım Efendi Abdurrahman Nesib Efendi Mehmed Esad Efendi Ürgüplü Mustafa Hayri Efendi Ömer Hulusi Efendi Haydarizade İbrahim Efendi Mustafa Sabri Efendi Dürrizade Abdullah Beyefendi Medeni Mehmed Nuri Efendi