Sünbül Sinan Efendi; A Study of his life, work and views of sufi tradition

In this Study, the life, religious works, and sufi views of sixteenth century prominent Sufi leader, Sunbul Sinan Efendi ( born hijri 936/1529) who played an important role in the 16th century Ottoman society were reviewed using his written works in Arabic and Turkish and related sources. His Arabic works, er Risaletu't Tahkikiyetu li Tullabi'l- Ikan fi Tariki's Sufiyyeti li Ehli'l Irfan, Risaletun fi'z-Zikri Tevhid and Risaletu'l Etvari's-Seb'a were referenced with ayats, hadiths, works and quotations of other scholars and reviewed in Arabic language. His Turkish works, er-Risaletu'l Ebediyyetu fi Tarikati's Sufiyye, Risale der Hakki Zikir ve'd-Devran, Tercume-i Risaletu't Tahkikiyye, Vasiyetname and Hymns (Ilahiler), were edited for the contemporary Turkish and reviewed in light of his views in the Sufi tradition. Sunbul Sinan had lived during the peak period of the Ottoman Empire which encompassed the powerful reigns of Bayazid II, Yavuz Sultan Selim and Kanuni Sultan Suleyman. He established good relations with the Sultans and statemen and improved his previously impaired relations with the religious authorities ( Ulama). Having been mostly influenced by Cemaliyye (Jamaliyye) branch of Halvetiyye tradition of Sufism, he founded the Sunbuliyye branch in Koca Mustafa Pasa Tekkesi in Istanbul which spread in Istanbul and Anatolia and the Balkans during his lifetime and by his caliphs afterwards.