AN AHL SUNNA DEFENDER IN SIXTEENTH-CENTURY OTTOMAN: BIRGIWI MEHMED EFENDI

Being considered as the golden age of Ottomans, the 16th century accommodates the regression seeds in itself with the political, economical, social and religious problems occurred especially in its second half. Birgiwi Mehmed Efendi had a distinct position among the people who were anxious and tried to produce solutions about the disintegrations met at every field of the social life. Having been educated in classical Ottoman education system and having taught for years as a member of this system, Mehmed Efendi stated that the lifestyle going away from the principles stipulated by Kuran and Sunna, and the religious insensitivity increasing every day took place at the base of these problems. Ending this degeneration would only be possible by penetrating inside the faith and worship world and cleaning the bidats aroused great interest among the people. The fact that Birgiwi placed himself against the bidat concept was the Ahl Sunna Way. Here, at this point, his guidance and reconciliation activities about teaching Ahl Sunna belief to extensive crowds and his insistent emphasize relating to the necessity of worship and moral to be arisen on a reliable faith foundation present great importance.