Somuncu Baba

Shaykh Hamid-i Vali (1331–1412), better known by his sobriquet Somunju Baba , was an ascetic teacher of Islam in Bursa, Turkey, who exerted extensive influence and is known as a Muslim saint. He was born in Kayseri and died in Aksaray. He taught at the Great Mosque of Bursa where he was installed by Sultan Bayezid I after it was completed. Somunju Baba's students included Molla Fenari and Haji Bayram Veli.

Biography Somunju Baba is the son of Shamsaddin Musa al-Kaysari, an adept of the Sufi schools of Khorasan who came to spread Islam in Anatolia. There are claims that his lineage traces back to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad through 24 generations. He received his early education from his father before going to study further in great cities like Damascus, Tabriz, Ardabil. He completed his spiritual training under the Safavid order before it turned to Shi'ism.

With the support of the Es-Seyyid Osman Hulusi Efendi Foundation, the site was restored and expanded into a complex featuring an additional mosque, a library, a museum, and an exhibition hall. Thanks to these developments, it has become a popular destination for both local and foreign visitors

Somunju Baba's protégés Haji Bayram Veli of Ankara Molla Shemseddin Fenari of Bursa Akşemseddin of Göynük Akbıyık Sultan of Bursa Sheyh Üftade of Bursa Aziz Mahmud Hudayi of Bursa Halil Taybi of Darende Baba Yusuf Hakiki of Aksaray Bıçakçı Ömer Dede of Göynük Hızır Dede of Bursa İnce Bedreddin of Darende Yazıcıoğlu of Gelibolu Sheyh Lutfullah of Balıkesir Şeyhî of Kütahya Muslihiddin Halife of İskilip Uzun Selahaddin of Bolu

Somuncu Baba Tomb and Mosque in Darende

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