Mehmet Kirkinci

 

By Ersan Akyuz

 

In 1928, Mehmet Kirkinci came into the world in a village called Gulluce which was connected to central Erzurum (east of Turkey).

In 1940 he moved with his family to Central Erzurum. In 1941, he began his first search for knowledge through a man called Haci Mustafa Efendi.

For the next five years he learned many things. He first learned about the Risale-i Nur during these times. Since 1946, he learned from one of the exceptional figures of the late Ottoman period, Haci Faruk Efendi. He also took lessons from a well known scholar from the east known as Solakzade Sadik Efendi between the years 1948-1951. Solakzade Sadik Efendi was the former mufti of Erzurum. Mehmet Kirkinci took lessons on logic, Islamic jurisprudence and theology during these times.

After that he continued studies with another well known scholar from the east by the name of Molla Nadir Efendi. After that he completed his 2 year military service.

He had read some of Bediuzzaman’s works and then decided to visit him. Then in 1955, he visited Ustad Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and Said Nursi prayed for him. Due to the military coup in 1960, he was taken to a camp in Sivas and jailed for 6 months. He was jailed again for 4 months in 1973 due to his involvement with the Risale-i Nur.

Currently residing in Erzurum, Mehmet Kirkinci has dedicated his life to knowledge and wisdom. He has helped people understand areas of Islam, Arabic and the risale-nur for many years. From time to time he is asked to write to various newspapers, magazines and websites.

He has written many books in Turkish. They include:
Ruh nedir? (What is man’s spirit?)
Kader nedir? (What is divine determining?)
Alevilik nedir? (What is Alevilik?)
Nukteler (The Points)
Hikmet Piriltilar (Rays of wisdom)
Darul Harp nedir? (What is Darul Harp?)
Fikir Damalalar (Droplets of thought)
Gonul Damlalar (Droplets of the heart)
Nasil Aldaniyorlar? (How people are fooled)
Siyasette olcu (The principles of politics)
Bediuzzamani nasil tanidim (How I met Bediuzzaman)
Cihad sahasinda Bediuzzaman (Bediuzzaman’s understanding of jihad)
Irsad sahasinda Bediuzzaman (Bediuzzaman in the field of preaching)
Irkci Boluculuge karsi Islamda birlik (Islamic unity against the separatist nationalists)
Nasil bir maarif? (What type of Education?)