Conference Held in Sofia to Commemorate 16th Century Bulgarian Quran Scholar
The scholarly legacy of Sheikh Bali Effendi, an eminent 16th century Quran scholar, was examined at a the event, the Muslimsaroundtheworld website reported.
The conference aimed to highlight the personality of this religious scholar, his scholarly legacy, and his influence on the religious and cultural life of Sofia during the Ottoman era and beyond.
In addition to his Quranic interpretations, the event also examined his legacy and role in religious, cultural, and poetic life.
The Serdika Hall in the Largoto Complex in downtown Sofia hosted the conference, jointly organized by the Sofia Regional Mufti, the Bulgarian Islamic Higher Education Alumni Association, and the Islamic Higher Institute in partnership with the Mimar Sinan Foundation in Edirne.
It was attended by several academic figures, including Stoyanka Kinderova, who examined the presence of Sheikh Bali Efendi in historical sources; Velen Belf, who discussed the concept of the seven spiritual degrees in his works; Ali Ozturk, who introduced the most prominent features of his poetic works; and Mustafa Shenturk, who explained his method of interpreting the verses of the Quran.
The conference was chaired by Vedat Ahmed, President of the Supreme Islamic Council of Bulgaria.
Also speaking were Bihan Mehmet, Mufti of Sofia, Kadir Mehmet, President of the Supreme Islamic Institute, and a number of other religious authorities, as well as representatives from the Turkish Consulate in Plovdiv and the Mimar Sinan Foundation.
The delegation visited the tomb of Sheikh Bali Efendi, located in the courtyard of the Church of St. Elias in the Konyazhevo district, where they were welcomed by Rev. Dilyan Tsvetkov.
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The conference concluded by emphasizing the importance of research efforts in preserving the legacy of Sheikh Bali Effendi and expressing deep appreciation for the contribution of researchers and supporting institutions in the success of this scientific event.
Bali Effendi (d. 1553), known as Sufi, was a religious scholar of the Ottoman era. He was born in Ostrog, which is now in Albania. He then settled in Sofia, Bulgaria, and his fame as Sufi originated from this village. He studied religious sciences in this city.
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