Mulla Khusraw

Mulla Khusraw (d. 885 AH / 1480 CE) was an Ottoman jurist, legal theorist, judge, and mufti of the Hanafi school, best known for his legal commentary Durar al-Hukkam Mujam al-Muallifin+1.

Early life and education

His full name was Muhammad ibn Faramarz (also recorded as Faramuz) ibn Ali Mujam al-Muallifin+1. Sources state that his father was of Byzantine Greek (Rumi) descent or an emir among the Turkmens who embraced Islam, while other reports attribute to him Turkmen ancestry from the Varsak tribe or French Frankish lineage Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1. His father gave a daughter in marriage to an emir named Khusraw; following his father's death, Muhammad was raised in the household of this brother-in-law, initially becoming known as "the brother of Khusraw's wife" before the name Khusraw became his predominant appellation Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1.

He acquired religious and rational sciences under Burhan al-Din Haydar al-Harawi (also called al-Rumi), a prominent pupil of Sa'd al-Din al-Taftazani Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He also studied early fundamentals with his brother, who was a teacher at the Halabiyya madrasa in Edirne al-Shaqaiq al-Numaniyya f…+1.

Judicial career and appointments

During the reign of Sultan Murad II, he received his first professorship at the Shah Malik madrasa in Edirne, where he authored glosses on al-Taftazani's al-Mutawwal (The Extended Commentary) Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1. After his brother died, he succeeded him as teacher at the Halabiyya madrasa al-Shaqaiq al-Numaniyya f…+1. He was subsequently appointed military judge (qadi 'askar) under Murad II and during the initial accession of Sultan Mehmed II Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1. When Murad II briefly resumed power and sent Mehmed II to Manisa, the state dignitaries abandoned the young prince, but Khusraw chose to accompany him, stating that chivalry demanded sharing both authority and dismissal with one's companion; this loyalty earned him Mehmed II's lasting affection al-Shaqaiq al-Numaniyya f….

Upon Mehmed II's permanent return to the throne, he assigned Khusraw a daily stipend of one hundred dirhams al-Shaqaiq al-Numaniyya f…+1. Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and the subsequent death of its judge Khidr Beg, Khusraw was appointed chief judge of the capital, along with judicial jurisdiction over Galata and Uskudar, and assumed the prestigious teaching post at the Hagia Sophia madrasa al-Shaqaiq al-Numaniyya f…+1.

Controversy and later offices

In 867 AH (1462 CE), a protocol dispute arose when precedence in seating or promotion was granted to Mulla Gurani over him, placing Khusraw on the left Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1. Displeased, Khusraw submitted a letter to the imperial council stating that scholarly and religious dignity precluded his attendance, departed Constantinople by ship for Bursa, and built a madrasa there in which he taught Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1.

Mehmed II later expressed regret, and in 874 AH (1469 CE) he summoned Khusraw back to Constantinople, where he elevated him to the supreme office of fatwa (mufti al-takht al-sultani / shaykh al-Islam) Mujam al-Muallifin+1. During his tenure in the capital, he also funded and constructed several mosques Mujam al-Muallifin+1. In legal theory, he authored the manual Mirqat al-Usul (The Ascending Stair of Legal Theory) alongside its commentary Mir'at al-Usul (The Mirror of Legal Theory) al-Shaqaiq al-Numaniyya f…+1.

Standing and students

He was regarded as a master of both legal branches (furu') and legal principles (usul), as well as rational and transmitted disciplines Mujam al-Muallifin+1. Mehmed II held him in high esteem, regularly pointing him out to his ministers with the words: "Look, this is the Abu Hanifa of his time" Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. When he entered Hagia Sophia for Friday prayers, the congregation would stand from the doorway to clear his path in reverence Kataib Alam al-Akhyar min…. Biographers describe him as of medium height with a full beard, modest in attire and wearing a small turban, serving himself in his study despite possessing numerous servants Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1.

His notable students included Yusuf ibn Junayd, Hasan Chelebi ibn Muhammad Shah al-Fanari, Hasan ibn Abd al-Samad al-Samsuni, and Muhyi al-Din ibn Maghnisa al-Fawaid al-Bahiya fi Ta…+1.

Death

He died in Constantinople in 885 AH (1480 CE) Mujam al-Muallifin+1. His body was transported to Bursa, where he was interred in the courtyard of the madrasa he had founded Mujam al-Muallifin+1.