Molla Şemseddin Fenari

Mulla Shams ad-Din Muhammad ibn Hamzah al-Fanari, also known as Molla Fenari, was an influential Ottoman figure in logic, Islamic theology, jurisprudence, and mystical philosophy. Born in 1350 in Bursa, Ottoman Empire, he passed away in the same city in 1431. Fanari was deeply influenced by the school of Ibn Arabi and prominent scholars like Qunawi. His early education involved studying under several notable figures, and he later pursued Hanafi jurisprudence in Egypt under Ekmeleddîn el-Bâberti. Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I appointed him as the judge of Bursa in 1390. Following a period of civil war after Bayezid I's death, Fanari left the Ottoman lands, lecturing in Egypt and Hejaz, and also authored a text on legal theory while employed by the Karamanoğlu Beylik ruler. Upon Murad II's ascension to the throne in 1421, Fanari was invited back to the Ottoman court. In 1424, Murad II appointed him as the qādī of the military, a role that would evolve into the Sheikh ul-Islam. He concurrently served as a professor and judge, holding these multiple positions until his death. His scholarly work was particularly recognized in the fields of logic and jurisprudence, with his commentaries and treatises being highly regarded throughout the Islamic world.