How many secrets do you think these stones hold? Right here stands the Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi. It is a testament to Istanbul’s rich educational history.
Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi was founded in 1747 by Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi. He was Rumeli Kazaskeri. This unique medrese isn’t tied to a külliye. A külliye is a traditional Ottoman complex.
Interestingly, Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi blends architectural styles. Though built during the Baroque period its style reflects Classical Ottoman design. This makes it a unique structure.
The medrese suffered damage during the Çarşamba Caddesi road construction. Despite this it remains an important historical site. Abdürrahim Efendi died in 1757. He was buried in the graveyard next to his medrese.
Let’s walk towards the entrance. The rectangular medrese is made of köfeki stone. Enter the courtyard through a marble-framed low arched gate on Darüşşafaka Caddesi. Originally, there were three shops southeast of the entrance. Over time the facade was covered and converted into a room.
Notice the square courtyard. Rooms line three sides creating a U-shaped layout. These were student cells. There is also a classroom. A marble-framed Baroque arched doorway leads to the classroom. It sits among the cells on the southeast side of the courtyard.
The classroom has windows and cabinets on its side walls. The southeast facade faces the hazire or small garden. It features three windows. A dome with pendentives covers the classroom.
Student cells are square. Each is covered with a dome. Two windows light each room. Inside each cell you would find a fireplace and a cabinet niche.
The Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi underwent restoration in 1976. Sadly the restoration altered its original character. Today the building serves as a Quran course.
Abdurrahim Efendi stipulated specific conditions in his vakfiye or foundation charter. The sheikh-ul-Islam would select the müderris or professor. Only one unmarried student could live in each room. The structure with its ten cells hints at the student capacity.
Medrese rankings depended on the müderris’s daily wage. Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi was in the “Miftah” group. The müderris earned 30 akçe per day. “Miftah” medreses taught Sekkaki’s Miftahu’l-Ulum. It covers Arabic language and rhetoric. Summaries and commentaries on this work formed a significant body of literature.
Lessons in Miftah madrasahs took one year to complete. Students then moved to madrasahs with higher-paid instructors.
Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi also featured a dersiye. A dersiye is a lesson taught anywhere even outside a formal medrese setting. This could be in a mosque or tekke. Abdurrahim Efendi’s second vakfiye dated December 31 1754 detailed this. A müderris would be paid 10 akçe daily. He would teach useful sciences on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Abdurrahim Efendi himself would choose this teacher. The vakfiye also required the student and teacher to recite a Fatiha. They also had to recite three Ikhlas prayers for his father Mahmud Efendi’s soul after each lesson.
Standing here at the Cedid Abdürrahim Efendi Medresesi one can almost hear the echoes of students learning and scholars teaching within these walls. It is a reminder of Istanbul’s dedication to knowledge and education. A legacy that continues to this day.