Page 86 - The School of Yusuf (as)

THE SCHOOL OF YUSUF

bying the authorities for the foundation of a university, which he
called Medresetü’z-Zehra, where religious as well as modern sci-
ences would be taught. His profound knowledge gained him the
scientific community’s recognition here within a short period of
time. He published articles in various newspapers and magazines,

and participated in the Liberation constitutionalism arguments of
the time. He played a pacifying role in March 31 rebellion of 1909,
but was arrested by order of the state of emergency courts, as a con-
sequence of false allegations, and was freed in due course.
Following these events, he returned to the east and formed a
militia with his students during the First World War. Bediuzzaman
was taken prisoner of war in Siberia, and after 3 years in captivity,

he escaped and returned to Istanbul via Leningrad, Warsaw,
Vienna and Sofia.
In Istanbul, he was received with great respect by the scientific
community and by government officials. He was appointed to the
office of Dar al Hikmat-al Islamiya, and from the income he earned,
he published his books, and distributed them free of charge.
During the occupation of Istanbul, he published a pamphlet called
Hutuvat-› Sitte warning of the occupying forces’ true intentions. He
rejected the Fatwa by the Sheikh al-Islam, obtained under duress,

and to the effect that the uprising in Anatolia was an unlawful re-
bellion, and instead defended and supported it. His attitude won
the approval of the national assembly formed in Anatolia, after
which he was invited to Ankara.
When he arrived in Ankara in 1922, he was received with an of-
ficial state ceremony. He was offered the posts of minister for reli-
gious affairs, Member of Parliament, and preacher for the eastern

regions, but he rejected all such offers. When he realized the hostil-

84