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This volume contains the Divan of the twice Şeyhülislam Mekki Mehmed Efendi (died 1212 AH/1797 CE).

Mehmed Efendi was known as Mekki Mehmed by virtue of having been born in Mecca (in 1126 AH/1714 CE), where his father Halil Efendi was the Kadı. After his father’s death he came to Istanbul and completed his medrese studies. He went on to become a müderris and later a kadı in Damascus, Medina, and finally Istanbul. In 1200 AH/1786 CE he was made Anatolian Kazasker, which was followed by an appointment as Kazasker of Rumelia a year later. He was appointed Şeyhülislam on 13 Safer 1202 AH/24 November 1787 CE but only lasted until 16 Cemaziyülevvel 1202/23 February 1788 CE, due to Sultan Abdülhamid I (reigned 1187-1203 AH/1774-1789 CE) preferring another candidate. He was returned to this office during the reign of Sultan Selim III (reigned 1203-1222 AH/1789-1807 CE), this time lasting 16 months (22 Receb 1205-22 Zilkade 1206 AH/27 March 1791-12 July 1792 CE). On this occasion, the Sultan required a more imposing figure as Şeyhülislam than the elderly, mild-mannered Mekki Mehmed in order to effect his bureaucratic and military reforms. He retired to his yalı at Rumelihisarı and passed away there on 22 Cemaziyülevvel 1212 AH/12 December 1797 CE.

Mekki Mehmed Efendi composed his Divan during his second period as Şeyhülislam, presenting the work to Selim III. It is a relatively short work, consisting of münacat, naatlar, medhiyeler, kasideler, gazeliyat, tarihler, tahmislar, kıt’alar, beyitler, and a short hatime in prose. He made frequent use of weighty poetic expressions with religious and mystical significance. His style was perhaps most reminiscent of Nabi, while the influence of Fuzuli and Nedim is also discernible in parts of his poetry.

Begins:

Düşür derunuma tab-ı muhabbetin ya Rab * Soğutma aşkla dilden hararetin ya Rab

Ends:

vermekte mucib-i rutubet olan enfas-ı Mesiha ile tığ-i zebana su vermek ile dua temam-ı makam-ı itmam ü ihtitama münasip olmağla divançe-i pür-kusurumuz bi-hamdillahi’l-meliki’l-allam dua ve tazarru-ı dergah-ı Kibriya ile itmam olundu

There is a rococo illumination over the text opening on f 1v and margins in gold, black, and red on ff 1v-2r. The colophon on f 30v does not state a date or copyist’s name. However, it may be dated to the 13th century AH/19th century CE.