Aziz Mahmud Hudayi was a mystic, poet, composer, author statesman and Islamic scholar. He was one of the most famous Muslim saints of the Ottomon Empire.
He was born in 1541, Kochisar. He started his education in Sivrihisar. Then he went to Istanbul to improve himself. He continued his education at Little Hagia Sophia Madrasa. He was quite clever and good at memorising. Despite being a lad, he became a great scholar at interpretation, hadith and fiqh.
Also he served as Qadi in Edirne, Egypt, Sham and Bursa. Then he asked Muhammed Uftade to be one of his students. But he was rejected because to be one of his students, he was too rich –he had scholarship, property, reputation.- And Muhammed Uftade wanted Mahmud Hudayi to leave all  he had and just to have Allah. Then Aziz Mahmud Hudayi quitted his job and started to sell something on the streets of Bursa.
After he got certificate, he was sent to Sivrihisar where he spent his childhood to spread Islam. But he could stay there just 6 months because he couldn’t bear his longing towards Muhammed Uftade. He came back to Bursa and served his hodga while he was spending his last days.

The year, Muhammed Uftade died, he went to Trakya. After a while, he came to Istanbul owing to Seyhulislam Hodga Sadettin. He trained at Little Hagia Sophia Madrasa. At the same time he taughtinterpretation, hadith and fiqh at Fatih Mosque to some students. And then he built Hudai Dervish Lodge. In a short time his dervish lodge achieved fame. In addition, he was being appreciated by Ottomon Sultans, too. And Hudai Dervish Lodge became a cultural centre for Istanbul.
Aziz Mamuh Hudayi died in 1628. Now his tomb is in his dervish lodge, Usküdar. And also today a charitable foundation whose name is Aziz Mahmud Hudayi serves in this place.

Gülşah Sarıçam