A scholar’s journey begins. This is the story of the Mehmet Rüştü Aşıkkutlu Camii. It intertwines with the life of a remarkable man, Mehmet Rüştü Aşıkkutlu. Born in Trabzon in 1901, his life was a testament to the pursuit of knowledge. Mehmet Rüştü Aşıkkutlu Camii stands as a tribute to his dedication.
The young Aşıkkutlu’s quest for knowledge began at home, under the tutelage of his father. He completed his memorization of the Quran with Hafız Tahir Efendi. His thirst for knowledge unquenched, he learned Arabic and the intricate laws of inheritance from Müderris Bakkalzade İsmail Efendi. He traveled to Istanbul. His goal was to find a teacher who could guide him in the complex study of Kıraat, the science of Quranic recitation.
In Istanbul, he found his mentor in Reisülkurra Hacı Hafız Ahmet Şükrü Efendi. He honed his skills under the guidance of İsmail Hakkı Bayrı. He delved into the nuances of Ibnü’l-Cezeri’s “Tayyibetü’n-neşr fi’l-kıraati’l-aşr”, a seminal work on the ten canonical readings of the Quran, with Varnalızade Ahmed Efendi. Aşıkkutlu’s dedication culminated in his icazet, a license to teach, marking his entry into the ‘silsile-i hafızan’, the chain of Quranic reciters.
His journey led him to Uğurlu, where he began his imamate at the Merkez Camii in 1932. Throughout his life, he shared his wisdom, teaching Kıraat, Islamic jurisprudence (fıkıh), and Arabic to countless students. The Mehmet Rüştü Aşıkkutlu Camii stands not only as a place of worship. It stands as a symbol of his lifelong devotion to learning and teaching. Even after his passing in 1980, his legacy lives on. His unpublished works, including “Aşere Kaideleri”, “Takrib Kaideleri”, “Tayyibe Tercümesi”, and “Tayyibe Şerhi”, remain a treasure trove of knowledge. They are held by his descendants, waiting to inspire future generations. Mehmet Rüştü Aşıkkutlu’s story is woven into the fabric of this mosque, a testament to a life devoted to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. His legacy continues to resonate within these walls, inviting us to embark on our own journeys of discovery.