In a recent gathering held on 7 November 2019 during our Mevlid‑i Şerif pilgrimage, we had the privilege of asking Sheikh Mehmed Efendi directly about the growing dissent that sometimes surfaces within our circles regarding Ottoman history. The question was simple yet urgent: “What should we say to the voices that criticize the Ottomans and rally against them?”
Sheikh Mehmed’s reply was both firm and compassionate, grounding his answer in the timeless relationship between the Ottoman legacy and the Divine.
The Ottoman Path Is One With God
He began by emphasizing that the Ottoman Empire has always stood with the Almighty, not with any worldly opposition. “Either you stand with Satan or you stand with God,” he declared. Because of this, aligning oneself with criticism of the Ottomans is, in effect, siding with the forces that oppose truth and mercy.
The Sheikh reminded us that the Ottoman state served Islam for seven centuries, protecting the faith and its peoples with courage (mertlik). “They treated everyone with humanity,” he said, noting how the empire offered refuge to Turks, Armenians, Jews and countless others alike. In his words, “the Ottomans gave freedom that Europe has never known.”
Service, Compassion, Honesty
Drawing on the teachings of our great master, Sheikh Nazım Kıbrısî, Sheikh Mehmed highlighted three core virtues that defined Ottoman conduct:
- Goodness to others – a consistent practice of kindness and mercy.
- Compassion – an enduring concern for the welfare of all souls.
- Honesty – unwavering truthfulness in governance and personal dealings.
These qualities, he explained, are independent of any ethnic label; they belong to the Sunnah‑based community that follows the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) path, not merely to “Turkishness” or other worldly identities.
The Corruption of Modern Misinterpretations
Sheikh Mehmed also addressed how contemporary narratives have distorted the Ottoman legacy. He warned against those who claim the empire was a flawed system that deserved collapse, labeling such voices as hypocritical and hypocritically seeking peace while sowing division.
He observed that many of these critics are motivated by a desire to exploit peoples for personal gain, echoing the “Western craft” that seeks to dismantle authentic Islamic governance.
Intent Matters: The Rome Expedition
When asked about our recent trip to Rome on 2 November 2019—a journey undertaken with the blessings of Sheikh Nazım Kıbrısî and Sheikh Mehmed Efendi—he underscored that intention (niyya) is decisive. The expedition was performed solely for the pleasure of Allah, to share the noble Ottoman heritage with others, and not for any worldly accolade.
A Call for Unity
In concluding, Sheikh Mehmed’s message resonates clearly: All criticism that stems from envy, falsehood or hatred toward the Ottomans finds no place within a community rooted in truth. We are urged to uphold the spirit of service, compassion and honesty that the Ottoman tradition embodied.
May we, as members of the Royal Ottoman Society, internalize this guidance, protect the legacy entrusted to us, and continue walking together on the path illuminated by our forebears.
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