Mehmet Nâzım Âdil, commonly known as Shaykh Nazim or Nazim al-Haqqani (April 21, 1922 – May 7, 2014), was a Turkish Cypriot Sunni Muslim scholar, Sufi leader, and one of the most influential figures in the Naqshbandi-Haqqani order of Sunni Islam. Born in Larnaka, Cyprus, he was a prominent mutasavvif (Sufi mystic) who founded the Haqqani branch of the Naqshbandi order, known for its global outreach and emphasis on spiritual purification.
Early Life and Education
- Birth and Lineage: Born Mehmet Nâzım Âdil in 1922, he traced his paternal lineage to Imam Abdul Qadir Gilani (founder of the Qadiriyya order) and maternally to Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi (founder of the Mawlawi order). His family claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad, making him part of the Ahl al-Bayt.
- Education:
- Moved to Istanbul in 1940 to study chemical engineering at Istanbul University but felt drawn to spiritual sciences, stating, “I felt no attraction to modern science; my heart was always drawn to the spiritual sciences.”
- Studied Classical Arabic and Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) under Jamal al-Din al-Alsuni in Istanbul, receiving an ijaza (teaching permission).
- Initiated into Naqshbandi Sufism by Shaykh Sulayman Arzarumi (d. 1948), who directed him to Damascus to study under Shaykh Abdullah Fa’izi ad-Daghestani, his primary spiritual guide.
- Spiritual Training: Spent years in Damascus under Daghestani, who gave him the honorific “al-Haqqani” and tasked him with spreading Naqshbandi teachings globally.
Career and Contributions
- Leadership of Naqshbandi-Haqqani Order:
- Succeeded Daghestani in 1973 as the 40th shaykh in the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, founding the Haqqani branch, which emphasized accessibility and outreach to diverse audiences.
- Established dergahs (Sufi lodges), mosques, and charitable centers worldwide, including a prominent tekke in London’s St. Ann Road, reportedly supported by Brunei’s Sultan Hasan Bolkiah.
- Traveled extensively to Europe, North America, and Asia, inviting people to Islam and promoting Sufi practices like dhikr (remembrance of God). His followers, estimated at around one million globally, include many converts, particularly in Germany and the US.
- Teachings and Works:
- Authored books like Mercy Oceans (1980), Mercy Oceans’ Pink Pearls (1983), and Mercy Oceans of the Heart (1985), focusing on spiritual guidance and the teachings of Daghestani.
- Emphasized universal values, love for the Prophet Muhammad, and the transient nature of worldly life, often stating, “Worldly goods are temporary; true life is in the hereafter.”
- Predicted events like the reopening of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia as a mosque and the rise of leaders respecting Islam in the 21st century.
- Charitable Efforts: Supported soup kitchens and aid distribution, such as the Hüseyin Hıfzı Aşevi in Cyprus, and oversaw the construction of the Hâce Emine Adil Mosque in Lefkosa, opened in 2012.
- Interfaith and Political Engagement: Met with state leaders, sultans, and politicians, offering spiritual counsel. His dergah in Lefke, Cyprus, attracted global visitors, including dignitaries seeking his prayers.
Personal Life
- Family: Married Hâce Emine Sultan Hanımefendi in 1952, a disciple of Daghestani and descendant of a Tatar family. They had four children: Hacı Nezihe, Shaykh Mehmet Adil, Shaykh Bahauddin, and Hacı Rukiye. Emine passed away in 2004.
- Residence: Lived primarily in Lefke, Cyprus, where he hosted followers, and spent time in Damascus and Istanbul.
Controversies
- Defiance of Ezan Ban: In the 1950s, during Turkey’s ban on the Arabic call to prayer, Nazim read the ezan in Arabic across Cypriot villages, facing 114 lawsuits and potential imprisonment. The cases were dropped after Turkey lifted the ban under Adnan Menderes.
- Criticism from Hardliners: Some Salafi critics labeled his Sufi practices, such as dhikr and veneration of saints, as bid’ah (innovation), though his followers revered him as a wali Allah (friend of God).
- Exaggerated Claims: His son, Shaykh Mehmet Adil, reportedly called him “the only visible saint on earth,” a claim that drew skepticism from some quarters.
Death and Legacy
- Death: Passed away on May 7, 2014, at age 92 in Nicosia, Cyprus, due to lung and kidney failure.
- Succession: Designated his eldest son, Shaykh Mehmet Adil, as the 41st leader of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani order in 2011, who continues his work from Istanbul.
- Influence: His global network of followers, particularly in Germany (via disciple Hassan Dyck’s Haqqani Trust) and the US, continues to publish his teachings. His emphasis on love, tolerance, and spiritual discipline earned him the nickname “Mevlana” among foreign disciples, likening him to Rumi.
- Recognition: Posthumously honored for his contributions to Islamic spirituality, with institutions like Hakkani TV (hakkani.org) preserving his lectures.
Connection to Other Scholars
- Habib Ali al-Jifri: While no direct link exists, both share a Sufi orientation and global outreach, with Al-Jifri’s Ba’Alawi order and Nazim’s Naqshbandi order emphasizing love for the Prophet and spiritual reform. Their paths likely crossed in scholarly or interfaith circles.
- Muhammad ‘Alawi al-Maliki: Nazim’s focus on traditional Sunni practices aligns with Al-Maliki’s defense of Sufism, though no documented interaction is noted. Both faced criticism from Salafis for their mystical approaches.
- Abdullah bin Bayyah: Nazim’s peace-oriented teachings resonate with Bin Bayyah’s initiatives, such as the Marrakesh Declaration. Their shared Maliki and Sufi leanings suggest ideological alignment, though no direct collaboration is recorded.
For more, explore his works via Hakkani TV (www.hakkani.org) or the Naqshbandi-Haqqani order’s resources.
