Molla Semseddin Fenari
Encyclopedia
Molla Shemseddin Fenari (Turkish
: Molla Şemsüddin-i Fenârî, 1350–March or April 1431) was an Ottoman
logician, Islamic theologian
, and Islamic legal academic.
Fenari was born in Bursa, then in the Ottoman Empire
, and now in Turkey. He completed his education at Egypt's Ekmeluddin Madrasah. Upon graduating, he returned to Bursa and was appointed professor (müderris) at the Manastır Madrasah.
Bayezid I
subsequently appointed Fenari judge (qadi
) of Bursa in 1390. The death of Bayezid I precipitated a civil war, which caused Fenari to leave the country, after which he lectured in Egypt
and in Hejaz
(part of present-day Saudi Arabia). In 1421, Murad II
ascended the throne as the sixth Ottoman Sultan
and recalled Fenari to the court. Murad appointed him Sheikh ul-Islam
in 1424, a position that he filled in addition to his other positions as professor and judge. He retained all three positions until the end of his life in Bursa in 1431.
During his academic career, he specialized in logic and (Islamic) jurisprudence. His papers on logic were reputed throughout the Islamic world. He also wrote an encyclopedia. His major writings are:
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
: Molla Şemsüddin-i Fenârî, 1350–March or April 1431) was an Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
logician, Islamic theologian
Islamic theology
Islamic theology is a branch of Islamic studies regarding the beliefs associated with the Islamic faith. Any religious belief system, or creed, can be considered an example of aqidah. However, this term has taken a significant technical usage in Islamic history and theology, denoting those...
, and Islamic legal academic.
Fenari was born in Bursa, then in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and now in Turkey. He completed his education at Egypt's Ekmeluddin Madrasah. Upon graduating, he returned to Bursa and was appointed professor (müderris) at the Manastır Madrasah.
Bayezid I
Bayezid I
Bayezid I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1389 to 1402. He was the son of Murad I and Valide Sultan Gülçiçek Hatun.-Biography:Bayezid was born in Edirne and spent his youth in Bursa, where he received a high-level education...
subsequently appointed Fenari judge (qadi
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
) of Bursa in 1390. The death of Bayezid I precipitated a civil war, which caused Fenari to leave the country, after which he lectured in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and in Hejaz
Hejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
(part of present-day Saudi Arabia). In 1421, Murad II
Murad II
Murad II Kodja was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1421 to 1451 ....
ascended the throne as the sixth Ottoman Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
and recalled Fenari to the court. Murad appointed him Sheikh ul-Islam
Sheikh ul-Islam
Shaykh al-Islām is a title of superior authority in the issues of Islam....
in 1424, a position that he filled in addition to his other positions as professor and judge. He retained all three positions until the end of his life in Bursa in 1431.
During his academic career, he specialized in logic and (Islamic) jurisprudence. His papers on logic were reputed throughout the Islamic world. He also wrote an encyclopedia. His major writings are:
- Enmuzec ül-ulum: A concise encyclopedia.
- Husul ül -bedaci fi usul iş-şeraci: Discussion on the innovations in law.