In this teaching Ayberk Efendi commemorates the 145th year of martyrdom for the 32nd Ottoman sultan, Sultan Abdülhamid, and invites us to reflect on the tragic end of his predecessor, Sultan Abdul Aziz Han. He reminds the community that bearing witness to the truth is a duty entrusted to every believer.
Ayberk Efendi explains that the official account describing Sultan Abdul Aziz’s death as suicide was deliberately crafted to conceal a calculated betrayal. After being deposed, the sultan was moved from Topkapı Palace to Feriye Palace and confined to a solitary room. On his final night he recited Surah Yusuf from the Qur’an, seeking divine comfort. That night, conspirators led by Mithat Pasha and Hüseyin Avni Pasha, together with others involved in the plot, ended his life. His martyrdom (şehit) stands as a stark reminder of injustice and of Allah’s ultimate judgment.
We honor Sultan Abdülhamid, whose legacy continues to inspire love and gratitude, and Sultan Abdul Aziz Han, whose soul we pray for alongside those responsible for his death. May these reflections guide us toward humility, truth and a deeper commitment to justice in our own hearts.
For further study of Ottoman history and spiritual heritage, you may explore the Society’s library collection.
