Part 43
By Harith Ubaida
The Ottoman sultans were deeply committed to Sharia, and justice and fairness were among their fundamental priorities. They treated non-Muslims, particularly Christian minorities, with remarkable fairness. The Ottoman rulers’ conduct toward Christians was free from oppression, prejudice, and force. It never crossed their minds to mistreat Christians on religious grounds. In the Ottoman Caliphate, all Christian groups were granted full religious freedom. Each denomination had its own religious leaders, who maintained open communication with the Sultan. Every faith had its own religious ceremonies, churches, beliefs, and way of life. The Ottoman state never interfered in their property, faith, language, or culture. They were even given the freedom to speak freely, to teach, and to pursue cultural activities.
This noble conduct of Mehmed the Conqueror (RH) was inspired by the sacred teachings of Islam and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was influenced by the justice, tolerance, and ethics of the Rightly Guided Caliphate. His fair treatment of enemies fills the pages of history.
The Spiritual Conqueror of Constantinople: Sheikh Aq Shams al-Din (RH)
Sheikh Aq Shams al-Din (RH) was the spiritual mentor and a great scholar of Mehmed the Conqueror. His full name was Muhammad ibn Hamza al-Dimashqi al-Rumi. He traveled to Rum with his father, where he studied various sciences and arts. He played a significant role in spreading Islamic culture and religious values during the Ottoman Caliphate. Aq Shams al-Din (RH) was the teacher of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, and his lineage traces back to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA).
He was born in Damascus in 792 AH (1389 CE). At the age of seven, he had already memorized the Holy Quran, and later he studied Arabic and Islamic sciences in Anatolia and Aleppo. He then moved to Ankara, where he studied under renowned scholars. He passed away in 1459 CE.
He taught Amir Mehmed the Conqueror the essential sciences of his time, including the Quran, hadith, fiqh, and the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish languages. Beyond that, he also taught him mathematics, astronomy, history, and the art of warfare. Aq Shams al-Din (RH) also tasked other teachers with instructing the Sultan in governance, politics, and administration, so that he would become the finest ruler of his age.
The Prophetic Glad Tidings and the Conqueror’s Determination
At that time, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror was serving as governor in Manisa. His teacher, Aq Shams al-Din (RH), showed him the blessed hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
«لتفتحن القسطنطينية، فلنعم الأمير أميرها، ولنعم الجيش ذلك الجيش»
“Verily, you shall conquer Constantinople. What a wonderful leader will that leader be, and what a wonderful army will that army be!”
This hadith left such a deep impression on Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror’s heart that from childhood he made this aspiration his goal. When he assumed the reins of the caliphate, he prepared his army to conquer Constantinople, following his teacher’s command. He laid siege to the city from all sides, and fierce and bloody battles raged for fifty-four days.
When the siege dragged on and the Byzantines received fresh supplies and reinforcements, new hope was kindled in them. The Pope sent four ships that managed to reach the city. This aid was crucial for the Byzantines under the pressure of the siege and boosted their morale. Around that time, the Ottoman emirs and ministers gathered and said to the Sultan: “Was it on the word of a Sufi that you brought such a great army to Constantinople and laid siege to the city?”
But Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror had not forgotten his teacher’s counsel. With faith, determination, and courage, he remained steadfast in fulfilling the glad tidings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
