The exact date of birth of Ibrahim Tannuri (quddisa sirruhu), one of the preeminent Sufi poets and mystics of the 15th century, remains unknown. As his father was from Sivas (a city in Turkey today) and his mother from Amasya (a city in Turkey today), his place of birth is attributed to both cities.
After completing his primary education in his hometown, Tannuri traveled to Konya, where he completed his studies under the tutelage of Karamanlı Sarı Abdullah Efendi. Subsequently, he moved to Kayseri and assumed the position of professor (mudarris) at the Hunad Hatun Madrasah.
He remained in this post for several years. However, upon discovering that the endowment deed (waqfiyah) of the madrasah stipulated that its professors and students must belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence (whereas he adhered to the Shafi’i school) he promptly resigned from his position.
When asked, "Sir, why do you not simply switch to the Hanafi school and keep your professorship?", his reply became legendary: "One does not barter their Madhhab for a professorship."
We pray that this exemplary answer serves as a lesson for those today who would compromise not only their school of law but their religion, their faith, and indeed their very essence, for the sake of a position, an office, or worldly gain.
Following his resignation from the madrasah, feelings of divine love began to awaken in his heart. Whenever he heard the Quran being recited, he would contemplate its meaning and fall into a state of jazba. Consequently, he turned towards Tasawwuf and began to seek a Murshid to guide him. Initially, he intended to travel to Ardabil, the center of the Safaviyya order. However, upon hearing of the renown of Akshamsaddin, he traveled instead to Beypazarı (a city in Turkey today) and entered his service.
When he first attended the gathering of Akshamsaddin, the Sheikh was engaged in preaching and counseling the congregation. After the discourse concluded, the Sheikh attended to the troubles of those present. As Akshamsaddin was also a physician, everyone asked him questions regarding physical ailments and received their prescriptions. After the people had departed, Akşemseddin lamented the situation, remarking that while everyone sought him out for bodily diseases, no one asked about spiritual maladies, nor was there anyone seeking a remedy for the pain of the heart.
Seeing that Ibrahim Tannuri had not left the gathering, the Sheikh asked him who he was and where he was from, inquiring about his trouble. Tennuri replied that he was a professor from Kayseri (a city in Turkey today), that his heart was sick, and that he had come seeking a cure for his spiritual ailment.
Akshamsaddin was greatly pleased with this answer and asked him what gift he had brought. Ibrahim Tennuri replied that he was a poor man and had thus come empty-handed. The Sheikh clarified that the gift he sought was not of this world, but rather a spiritual state or a truthful dream granted by Allah. When Tennuri replied that he had seen no such dream to present, the Sheikh took him into seclusion (halvet).
Although his companions in seclusion practiced severe asceticism (riyadah) and ate nothing, food was brought to Tennuri every mid-morning. One day, feeling ashamed of eating and drinking in the presence of his fasting companions, he refused the food. Upon hearing this, the Sheikh scolded him, stating: "A dervish must not act according to his own volition. The Murshid knows the disciple's state better than the disciple himself. While the temperament of the others requires asceticism, you have no need of it."
On another occasion, Tannuri craved rice. The attendant immediately arrived, saying the Sheikh was summoning him. When he entered the Sheikh’s presence, Akshamsaddin pointed to a tray of rice and told him to eat as much as he desired, assuming the Sheikh was not there.
After completing his spiritual journey (sayr u suluk) by the side of Akshamsaddin, Ibrahim Tannuri was sent back to Kayseri to offer guidance (irshad) and to show the path of Truth to seekers.
During his time in Kayseri, he once fell into a state of severe spiritual constriction (kabz). Unable to shift into a state of expansion (bast) no matter what he did, he resolved to visit his Sheikh, Akshamsaddin. On the journey, he saw Akshamsaddin in a dream. The Sheikh told him to sit upon a tandoor (tannur - a clay oven) and sweat profusely. When he did as instructed, the constriction immediately lifted, and the state of expansion returned. Thereafter, he would have his disciples who fell into a state of constriction sit on a tandoor and drink copious amounts of water to induce sweating, thereby restoring them to a state of spiritual expansion. It is from this practice that Sheikh Ibrahim received the epithet "Tannuri."
Ibrahim Tannuri, who also participated in the Conquest of Istanbul alongside his master Akshamsaddin, passed away in Kayseri in 1482. He was laid to rest on the western side of the Sheikh Mosque, which he had built himself, in the Emir Sultan neighborhood. His tomb is still visited today by seekers of the Truth.
May Almighty Allah have mercy upon him, elevate his station continuously, and grant us the favor of his intercession.