Derviş Mehmed

Abstract

Derviş Mehmed was a former priest who converted to İslam and became a derviş (Sufi seeker). İn his signature at the end of MS İstanbul - Saliha Hatun (fol. 114V), he identifies himself as ‘derviş Mehmed wlıo converted to İslam from priesthood’ (papasdan dîrı-i İslâm ’a gelen derviş Mehmed). According to his own account, he ‘worshipped idols’ for 47 years, until, 011 reading the Gospel, he discovered the predictioıı of the coming of the Prophet Muhammad and came to the conclusion that İslam was the true religioıı. After a dreaııı in which he saw a vision of the Prophet, he converted to İslam. Thereupon he abandoned his hometown, property and frieııds for the sake of God and the Prophet and, after a five-month joıırney, arrived in Ottoman lands. The text provides 110 information about Derviş Mehmed’s place of origin, nor does it say wlıere he finally settled in the Ottoman Empire.