A Turkish idiom used to explain distant places associates with Fezzan, a large geographical province located in southwest of today’s Libya. When someone wants to underline how remote the place where he is talking about says ‘It is in Fezzan.’ Despite this perception, some historical findings tell us Fezzan is not so away from us. Reminiscent of Ottoman culture has been still found in northern Niger which is south of Fezzan. In the city of Istanbulewa, with a certain reference to Ottoman capital, Ottoman flag is waving even today.
It was known that Fezzan is the last centre where Ottoman troops were able to control until the discovery of Agadez Sultanate in the south of Fezzan. The local rulers and tribal chiefs including the current leader İbrahim Umaru, claim that they are descendants of Ottoman Sultan Bayazid. Umaru said “I am the Sultan of Agadez region. Our story goes back to centuries ago, in 1400s. A group of people from our tribe achieved to arrive Ottoman capital and meet with Ottoman Sultan. The Sultan accepted to appoint a governor to Agadez from his dynasty. The ruler came here and began to preside over tribes.”
INTERNATIONAL MUJADDID ALF THĀNĪ SYMPOSIUM HELD IN ISTANBUL
An international symposium named after a prominent Islamic scholar, Imam-i Rabbani, was launched in Istanbul on 15 November. Known as the “reviver of the second millennium”, the Indian Islamic scholar brings the messages, rejuvenating Islam beyond centuries. A three-day symposium organised by the Aziz Mahmut Hudayi Foundation and Istanbul Sufi Studies Centre started with an opening ceremony at the Halic Congress Centre. Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate President Mehmet Gormez, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek and Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag were also in the attendance at the ceremony along with more than 40 academicians around the world. Speaking at the opening ceremony which started with a Quran recitation, Mehmet Gormez said works of Imam-i Rabbani managed to address various types of people in the society.
Imām Rabbānī Shaykh Ahmad al-Farūqī al-Sirhindī (1564–1624) was an Indian Islamic scholar, a Hanafi jurist, and a prominent member of the Naqshbandī Sufi order. He is described as Mujaddid Alf Thānī, meaning the “reviver of the second millennium”, for his work in rejuvenating Islam.