SHEIKH ZAINAL ABIDIN EL-ABIRI AND HIS DIPLOMA / ŞEYH ZEYNELABİDİN EL-ÂBİRÎ VE İCÂZETNÂMESİ

Sheikh Zainal Abidin (d.1953) is from Kagızman and he is one of the recent scholars and sufis. We know too little about his life and his place at science and mysticism. Today, however, some information and documents obtained from the grandchildren, who are in position of living resources, contribute to fill an important gap in this regard. According to these sources; Sheikh Zainal Abidin, is buried in the village of Abri, in the district of Bulanık, Muş, and he is one of the descendants of Sheikh Abdulmelik (Aynulmelek) (d.726/1326) who is a scholar and sayyid (a His spiritual journey at sufi path began as a member of Sheikh Muhammed Kufrevi (d.1316/1898) and he took his diploma from his son, Sheikh Abdulbaki Kufrevi (d.1943). There are some mystical knowledge and advice in the contents of this diploma we have reached the original copy and it has the cult series which reaches to the Prophet with five separate evidence. During the First World War years, Zainal Abidin Abri came to Cizre as a immigrant from the village of Abri. He is subjected to exile at the same place by the managers of that age. He worked as a imam (prayer leader) in Cizre and educated a large number of students and disciples. There is not any information about the rest of these students except Hulusi Yahyagil (d.1986). After the end of his exile in Cizre, he settled in Kagızman and continued to his enlightenment activities. This article have first provided information about Sheikh Zainal Abidin's life. Then his cult degree which he received from Sheikh Abdulbaki Kufrevi will be assessed. We have focused on letters that were written by Hulusi Yahyagil and his close friend Muhammed Lutfi (d.1376/1956) who is from Alvar. We have believed that these letters will contribute to reveal his mystical personality.