He was the son of Sultan Abdul Majid and is remembered as one of the greatest rulers of the Ottoman Empire. He ascended to the throne at the age of thirty-four during one of the most difficult periods in Ottoman history. The empire was surrounded by internal weakness, foreign pressure, and political unrest, yet he ruled for more than thirty years and became the last true Sultan to preserve the authority and dignity of the Khilafah.

The condition of the empire during his reign was one of hardship and decline, but Sultan Abdul Hamid ق struggled tirelessly to protect the Muslim world and delay the fall of the Ottoman state. Despite the many wars, conspiracies, and pressures placed upon him, he remained firm in his faith, committed to his responsibility as the Caliph of the Muslims.

He was given the title “Servant of the Two Sacred Sanctuaries,” and whenever people praised him as the ruler of Makkah and Madinah, he would humbly reply:

“I am nothing but a servant of Makkah and Madinah.”

It is reported that Sultan Abdul Hamid ق would keep a clean brick beside his bed so he could perform tayammum before placing his feet upon the ground. He would then make wudu in the normal manner afterward. When asked about this practice he replied:

“As the Caliph of the Muslims, if I am careless in following the Sunnah, this may harm the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ.”

His love and reverence for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was well known. During the construction of the Hijaz Railway in Madinah, he ordered the workers to wrap the heads of their hammers with leather so that loud sounds would not disturb the blessed city of the Prophet ﷺ. The railway tracks were also designed in a manner that reduced excessive noise, and much of the heavy labor was carried out away from Madinah out of respect and adab.

Sultan Abdul Hamid ق upheld the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah and supported the scholars and spiritual masters who preserved the religion. Before becoming Sultan, he attended the gatherings of the Shadhili Shaykh, Sayyidi Zafir al-Madani ق, who greatly influenced his spiritual life. He regularly attended gatherings of dhikr, was devoted to prayer, and is said to have recited the Dala’il al-Khayrat daily while encouraging the recitation of Qur’an, Sahih al-Bukhari, and abundant salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.

During his reign, many foreign ideologies began spreading throughout the Muslim lands, calling the people away from their religion and traditions. Sultan Abdul Hamid ق stood firmly against these movements and defended the Islamic identity of the Ottoman state. He honored the scholars of the four madhhabs, supported the traditional institutions of Sunni Islam, and protected the authority of the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah.

He understood that the strength of the Ummah was not in wealth or armies alone, but in holding firmly to the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the path of the righteous scholars and awliya. For this reason he maintained close ties with the people of knowledge and spirituality and encouraged the revival of faith throughout the empire.

Even while facing betrayal, political attacks, and immense pressure from foreign powers, he refused to abandon his principles or compromise the dignity of the Muslims. His reign remains a symbol of devotion, dignity, and steadfastness in service to Islam.

May Allah ﷻ sanctify his secret, reward him for his service to the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ, and grant us love for the righteous and firmness upon the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah.

Al-Faatiha for his soul.

Written by حنفي ماتريدي نقشبندي