Nightingale in the Garden of Love

This is a translation of the spiritual poems of one of the greatest Ottoman Sufi masters, Mehmed Muhyiddin ftade (1490-1580). ftade was born and lived in Bursa, a hugely important spiritual centre at the height of the Ottoman Empire. He was founder of one of its main dervish orders, the Jelvetiyye, through the training of his famous disciple, Aziz Mahmud Hdayi. In addition, ftade composed a collection of poems, which express his spiritual quest in simple, direct and wonderfully human language, and these are presented here for the first time in English. Paul Ballanfat's introduction provides a detailed overview of the main features of ftade's life and teachings, and of his cultural background, where sultans were often affiliated to Sufi orders. Particularly prominent in ftade's teaching was the thought of "the greatest master", Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, and of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. ftade had a direct spiritual connection with both of these extraordinary men and a great veneration for them.