Analysis: Everyone debates Muhammed Husrev's nationality but forgets his contributions

Muhammed Husrev (Aydinlar) was born in the village of Labunista, near Struga, in present-day Macedonia. He hails from an Albanian family, and his father was Numan Effendi. He completed his primary education in his village, after which he studied for one and a half years in Ohrid and Tirana. In 1910, he went to Istanbul, where he enrolled in the Ucbas Medrese in Karagumruk. There he attended lectures by teachers such as Rebi Molla, Kastamonulu Ahmed Effendi, Tavaslı Hafiz Hasan, and Izmirli Ismail Haki. Later, he enrolled in the Suleymaniye Medrese and graduated in 1919 from the department of Quran and Hadith interpretation. Subsequently, he was appointed a teacher at the Ibtida-i Haric Medrese, where he taught Arabic.

After the abolition of the medreses and the title "dersiam" following the establishment of the Republic, Husrev Hodja continued his work voluntarily. However, due to pressures, he left the country, citing that he would return to his hometown, and in 1936 settled in Medina. Nevertheless, due to his family's health problems, he returned to Istanbul a year later. Despite all pressures, he continued giving lectures. Husrev Hodja also occasionally delivered khutbahs (sermons) at the Hodjapasha and Camialti mosques. His determination to maintain religious education and speak the truth is remembered through many stories and anecdotes. After the opening of Istanbul Imam Hatip School, he taught there for about two years. He died on April 23, 1953, in Istanbul and was buried at the Sakızagaç Cemetery in Edirnekapı.

For more than thirty consecutive years, he gave lectures at the Fatih Mosque and in his home for students of various levels. Husrev Hodja considered students’ education as a form of worship. According to his student Yaşar Tunagur, when his illness advanced and his sight worsened, he was advised to stop lecturing. Nevertheless, he expressed regret that he had not decided this himself, asking for God's forgiveness, and died three days later. Especially during the period from 1940 to 1950, when religious life and education were under intense pressure, Husrev Hodja courageously continued his teachings, helping to sustain religious life and educate dedicated students. Some of his students include Salih Şeref, Abdülhalim Akkul, Hüseyin Karakozoğlu, Mahmut Bayram, Deputy Director of the Directorate of Religious Affairs Yaşar Tunagur, former Mufti of Akdağmadeni Sadık Fidançı, and engineer H. İsmail Turan.

Husrev Hodja devoted himself entirely to his beliefs and the struggle for them, without seeking material compensation or fame. In the foreword to his work "Risaletul-Mevahibil-İlahiyye," he wrote that the book was written in difficult times. His student Mustafa Nejat Efendi from Erzurum, who transcribed the book, noted that during its writing, Husrev Hodja’s wife passed away, his house with all books burned down, and sounds of enemy weapons approaching Istanbul were heard. Despite all these hardships, Husrev Hodja lived a modest life, earning by selling vegetables from his garden. The funds for his funeral were provided by a retired police officer from his community, who donated his pension, while offered funds from students were returned to Husrev Hodja’s family.

His only work, written in Arabic, is "Risaletul-Mevahibil-İlahiyye." This work highlights his skill in the Arabic language and deep knowledge of Quranic interpretation literature. The work consists of two main parts and covers the interpretation of verse 21 from Surah Al-Baqara, presenting it through various methods and approaches. This work is a significant indication of his early scholarly activity, which unfortunately did not continue later due to difficult life conditions and his focus on educational work.