The Origins of Hacı Bayram Veli

 

Early life and spiritual journey

 

Born in 1352 in Solfasol (Solfasıl/Zulfazıl), a small village on the edge of Cubuk Suyu in Ankara, the man who would become one of Turkey's most influential Sufi masters began life with the name Nûmân bin Ahmed bin Mahmûd. As the eldest of three siblings, young Numan showed exceptional intellectual promise from an early age.

 

Immersing himself in both religious and natural sciences, he studied the interpretation of the Koran, hadith, and canon law by attending courses with prominent scholars in Ankara and Bursa. His academic prowess eventually led him to become a professor at the Black Madrasah of Ankara, built by Melîke Hâtun, where he quickly gained a reputation and respect among the people.

 

Nevertheless, despite his scholarly achievements, Professor Numan felt a spiritual emptiness. According to historical accounts, a profound dream prompted him to abandon his academic career and turn toward mysticism. This pivotal moment led him to seek guidance from Şeyh Hamid-i Veli, commonly known as Somuncu Baba.

 

Their fateful meeting occurred in Kayseri during the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha). Recognizing something special in Numan, Somuncu Baba gave him the name "Bayram," saying, "We are celebrating two bayrams on the same day". Subsequently, the two mystics traveled together to Bursa and even performed the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) together, during which Somuncu Baba continued to teach his eager disciple the principles of Sufism.

 

Founding of the Bayramiye order

 

Following the death of his spiritual master in 1412, Hacı Bayram Veli established the Bayramiye order (tariqa) in Ankara around the year 1400. After performing the funeral prayer for his teacher, he returned to Ankara and built a dervish lodge on the site where his tomb and mosque now stand.

 

The Bayramiye order represented a unique synthesis of existing Sufi traditions, combining elements of Khalwatī, Naqshbandī, and Akbarī Sufi Orders. What truly distinguished this order from others, however, was its strong emphasis on productive labor and craftsmanship. Hacı Bayram Veli encouraged all his disciples to engage in manual work, particularly farming and artisanship.

 

Under his charismatic leadership, the order quickly flourished, spreading beyond Ankara to the Ottoman capital, Istanbul, where several tekkes (Sufi lodges) were established. Moreover, the order expanded into the Balkans—especially in Bosnia, Macedonia, and Greece—and even reached as far as Cairo, Egypt.

 

His influence on Anatolian Sufism

 

Hacı Bayram Veli's influence on Anatolian Sufism was profound and far-reaching. His approach to Sufism emphasized practical spirituality that integrated mystical experience with productive labor. Rather than focusing solely on establishing tekkes or foundations, he and his dervishes prioritized farming and collecting donations for the poor while moving through marketplaces with banners, musical instruments, and symbols.

 

His growing popularity eventually caught the attention of Sultan Murad II, who—concerned by rumors of potential rebellion—summoned Hacı Bayram to Edirne, the Ottoman capital at that time. For this important meeting, Hacı Bayram took his distinguished disciple Akşemseddin with him. Once the Sultan realized the accusations were unfounded, he developed great respect for the Sufi master, engaging in private consultations about worldly matters and spiritual questions.

 

Among his most notable disciples were Akşemseddin (who would later spiritually guide Mehmed II in the conquest of Constantinople), Bıçakçı Ömer Efendi, Göynüklü Uzun Selâhaddîn, the brothers Yazıcızâde Muhammed and Ahmed Bîcân, and his son-in-law Eşrefoğlu Rûmî. These disciples ensured that his spiritual legacy continued long after he died in 1430.

 

Although the Bayramiye order is almost non-existent today, its influence continues through other Sufi orders, particularly through figures like Aziz Mahmud Hudayi (founder of the Jelveti order) and the prolific writer and Muslim saint İsmail Hakkı Bursevî.