35 Facts About Mulla Effendi

Mulla Abu Bakr Effendi, Mulla Effendi, Abu Bakr IV or Kucuk Mulla was a senior Islamic philosopher, scholar, astronomer, politician, and a prominent personality from Arbil, Iraq.

Mulla Effendi was born into a respected and intellectual family of Islamic scholars who settled in Arbil in the 16th century and spent most of their life learning and teaching Islamic studies at the Great Mosque at the Citadel of Arbil.

Mulla Effendi's family was well known for their piety and learning and influential throughout Kurdistan for hundred years before him.

Mulla Effendi contributed to establishing many schools and mosques in Arbil and in many different villages.

Mulla Effendi became one of the most influential figures in Kurdistan in the late 19th century and until his death.

Mulla Effendi had an important role in disengaging tribal conflicts during the Ottoman rule where he received the highest recognition by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

Mulla Effendi advocated for the rights of the Christian inhabitants of Ankawa.

Mulla Effendi received many honors and tributes both during and after his life.

Mulla Effendi was named "Kucuk Mulla" or "Malla i Gichka" after his grandfather Abu Bakr III Effendi who was known by that name because he completed his study of Islamic sciences in a record period as no one had done before in that age.

Mulla Effendi received his education from his father, Hajji Omer Effendi, who was the speaker of the Great Mosque.

Mulla Effendi was only twenty eight years when he took his father's place after his father's death in 1891.

Mulla Effendi taught Islamic philosophy, Islamic history, science, mathematics, astronomy and ethics.

Mulla Effendi was married four times during his life, and left two sons and three daughters.

At one time, Sultan Abdul Hamid II requested Mulla Effendi's help to settle a conflict between two large Kurdish tribes.

Mulla Effendi used his influence to reconcile the two tribes.

Mulla Effendi gathered the tribal leaders and urged them to refrain from taking any action that would compromise the stability of the country.

Mulla Effendi described Mulla Effendi in his book as the following:.

Mulla Effendi spends his days in the Great Mosque of Arbil, and betakes himself to this retreat in the evening.

Mulla Effendi wears normally a long grey gown stretching to his feet, and a fez wound round with pale blue muslin.

Mulla Effendi is respected throughout Kurdistan for his piety and learning; his ancestors for several generations before him have earned a similar reputation, and it is said that none of the family, which owns large properties, have ever yet laid a complaint against any man.

Mulla Effendi is trustee for the endowments of the Great Mosque; he normally leads the services there and preaches the Friday sermon.

Mulla Effendi followed both world and local politics with great interest, and his wide knowledge of most subjects from astronomy to botany was extraordinary as he had never travelled outside the province.

Mulla Effendi set up his own chapel, his library of Persian, Turkish and Arabic books, his garden and guest house, and seldom left it except for the Friday Prayer in the big mosque in the Qala.

Mulla Effendi was a most charming conversationalist and a lavish host.

Mulla Effendi had great influence with the tribal chiefs who were always going to him for advice, and a line from him would be sure of a favourable reception from an otherwise bigoted and unco-operative public.

Mulla Effendi could reassure them about drinking water from a clean source pumped by infidel engines to the top of the Qala, and when the first troop of Boy Scouts was looked up with suspicious as the beginning of conscription, it was Mulla Effendi who told his sons to Join.

Mulla Effendi immediately gathered the tribal leaders in Arbil and informed tribesmen that he would consider any attack against Christians as an attack against him.

Mulla Effendi opened his house to them and moved his family to another house at the citadel.

Mulla Effendi invited tribal leaders to Badawa to express solidarity with the royal family.

Abu Bakr Mulla Effendi died on Thursday December 31,1942.

Mulla Effendi was buried in the family's private cemetery in Badawa.

Mulla Effendi contributed to establishing many schools and mosques in Arbil and in many villages.

Mulla Effendi sponsored the costs of living and studying of his students at the Great Mosque.

Mulla Effendi maintained strong relationships with senior scholars from Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, and other places.

Mulla Effendi received many honors and tributes during his life and posthumously.