The 'Cinci Hoca' and the bewitching of societies

One of the figures who left his mark on the 17th century was a 'cinci' (exorcist/sorcerer) who held significant influence in the Ottoman palace. I am not sure if we are talking about a profession like an electrician when we say 'cinci', but when it comes to commerce, there is no 'phenomenon' that isn't put up for sale. In this respect, 'cinci-ism' is just such a profession. At the very least, people emerged who turned this into a profession and amassed a fortune from it. I believe you will witness this situation closely in the following lines of our article.

The full name of this person, also known as "Cinci Hoca," is Hüseyin b. Mehmed b. Eş-Şeyh Karabaş İbrahim Efendi. I am talking about "Hüseyin Efendi" from Safranbolu. Let us take a short journey into his life story in this article. For examining him is also instructive in terms of seeing how far the self-interested relationship that humans establish with religion can extend.

Hüseyin Efendi received his first religious education from his grandfather, who was also a preacher, and subsequently from his father. His introduction to "magic" also coincides with these years. Indeed, his father, Sheikh Mehmet Çelebi, taught him knowledge related to spells and sorcery.

Years passed, and Hüseyin Efendi set off for Istanbul to continue his education. The place was one of the Süleymaniye madrasas. Hüseyin Efendi was brilliant; his name became known among the students in a short time. On the other hand, he continued to engage in magic and spells. This situation was not welcomed by the other teachers at the madrasa, so much so that Hüseyin Efendi had turned sorcery into a gateway for profit. Because of this, he could no longer remain in the madrasa. Danger bells had begun to ring for him.

So, where would Hüseyin Efendi go now?

The answer to the question is not given by him, but by the Palace. What does the madrasa matter? Hüseyin Hoca would now become the favorite of the palace. The reason for this was the Sultan's illness. When no solution could be found for the mental illnesses Sultan Ibrahim was experiencing, Kösem Sultan invited him to the palace. The man otherwise known as "Cinci Hoca" was now at the highest level of the state.

According to the Encyclopedia of Islam published by the Diyanet Foundation, he recited such effective prayers in the palace that these prayers comforted Sultan Ibrahim and did him good. As such, he used state resources to the fullest extent, or rather, he pushed all possibilities for his personal ambition and interests. First, a furnished palace was built for him next to the Mahmud Pasha Mosque. And would one ask about the madrasa credentials of a person living in the palace anymore! They were not asked, and he began to be appointed as a mudarris/teacher to schools without graduating from that madrasa.

However, considering the powerful breath of the Cinci Hoca, keeping him in the madrasas instead of the palace was not found logical! He was summoned to the Sultan's side, and it was said, "You will be his teacher now." Moreover, the only title he received was not just teaching; Hüseyin Efendi was appointed as the judge of Galata with the rank of Istanbul judge.

I can hear your question, "What are the Sheikh-ul-Islam/teachers doing during all these processes, are they not objecting to this situation?" You are right, there are objections, but who is listening? There are years when the moment the power speaks, all religions fall silent; if they do not, their breath is cut off, a rope is put around their necks, and they are murdered. I think the question expressed above has found its answer. At this point, let us also remember the Grand Vizier of the period, Kemankeş Kara Mustafa Pasha.

Mustafa Pasha was not liked by some of the leading figures of the era, and as one might guess, Cinci Hoca was among them. Specifically, Mustafa Pasha wanted to make some administrative and financial arrangements to increase revenues while reducing expenditures. However, Valide Kösem Sultan, Silahtar Yusuf Pasha, Hüseyin Efendi, and some other names opposed this. And Cinci Hoca, using his influence in the palace, had Mustafa Pasha murdered in 1644. And then? As if receiving a reward, he was appointed as the Kazasker (Chief Military Judge) of Anatolia. Now, the justice of the state was entrusted to him. Meanwhile, the allegations of bribery and corruption against him had, so to speak, reached the heavens. Due to the allegations against him, he was constantly dismissed and simultaneously appointed to the same position—Kazasker—four times. Finally, he was dismissed from this position in 1646 and was first exiled to Izmit, and then sent to Gallipoli.

The beginning of the end for him starts with the death of Sultan Ibrahim. Indeed, Ibrahim was the power behind him. When the new Sultan, Mehmed IV, ascended to the throne, he demanded 200 purses of gold/akçe from him for the accession bonus (cülus bahşişi). However, Cinci Hoca did not want to give this. Yet, his personal wealth was almost equal to the Ottoman treasury. Over the years, he had acquired a great fortune with the money he obtained from bribery and corruption.

Returning to our topic, when he did not give the requested money, Hüseyin Efendi was first imprisoned. Subsequently, his registered assets were confiscated. Moreover, almost all of the accession bonus was taken from him. So much so that it is stated that 1,920,000 of the 1,958,400 gold ducats distributed as the accession bonus were the money of Cinci Hoca.

Ultimately, Hüseyin Efendi was appointed as the Sanjak Bey of Ibrim. After all this, being appointed to such a position is, of course, a cause for questioning. The answer to this question is again provided by the Encyclopedia of Islam: The reason for this appointment is his spiritual power; it is said, "This appointment was carried out because his spiritual power was feared." Hüseyin Efendi fell ill on the road before he could even reach his post, and upon the intervention of the Crimean Khan, he returned to Istanbul.

Despite all this, Cinci Hoca did not choose to withdraw to his corner and spend his remaining years in peace. On the contrary, he told everyone he saw that his goods and money had been seized, and that not even a tenth of it had been given to the Sultan. Then he stated that his men were arrested under the pretext of a sipahi uprising. And finally, when these words created discomfort in the palace, Hüseyin Efendi was murdered by Hüseyin Çavuş.

Cinci Hoca clearly amassed a great fortune by selling magic and sorcery through religion, and with his collaborators within the palace, he rose to a managerial position at the state level. He grew up in a religious family and put his religious knowledge up for sale like a merchant, and despite being a believer, he made crime and sin a part of his daily life.

Cinci Hoca did not come to where he was with magic and similar powers. He came by using religion as a tool for exploitation and rent-seeking, by creating an environment suitable for this, and by trampling faith under his feet. What is important is the exposure of that rent-seeking mentality we mentioned and the elimination of the social structure that makes people ready to be bewitched. Only then will there be no magic left, nor sorcerers. History says this, and so does today.