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Sheikh Muhammed Bâhâeddin al-Tavili (Arabic: الشيخ مُحَمَّدْ بهاء الدين طويلة), also known as Bâhâeddin Naqshbandî, Abū al-Bahá, or Bâhâeddin the First (1836; Tavila - 1881; Tavila), was a 19th-century Iraqi-Kurdish Sufi scholar, mystic, and poet. He belonged to one of the most influential noble households of the Middle East and Ottoman Empire, the House of Tavil.

He was the eldest son and spiritual successor of Uthman Sirâj-ud-Dîn Naqshbandi He was born in 1836 in the village of Tawella, which was within the Ottoman borders at the time and is now located in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Life

Muhammed Bahâeddîn followed the principles of the Naqshbandi path. He received both outward (zâhirî) and inward (bâtınî) knowledge from his father. His father, Osman et-Tavilî, made a special effort to nurture his development. He became a scholar in outward sciences and a Sufi saint.

During his father’s lifetime, he was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching, mentoring, and guiding his brothers Ömer Ziyâeddîn, Abdurrahmân Ebü'l-Vefâ, and Ahmed Şemseddîn. His brothers were raised in his scholarly gatherings and spiritual discourses. He also taught his nephews Muhammed Alâeddîn and Muhammed Necmeddin.

After his father’s death, he continued to guide the people.

Conflict with Qajari Empire

In 1869, Ferhad Mirza, the uncle of Iran’s Shah Naser al-Din Shah and the son of Abbas Mirza, led a large army against Muhammed Bahâeddîn et-Tavilî, who had many followers in the region. Al-Tavili assumed the role of mediator to prevent the war by writing a letter to the Shah of Iran.

After reading the letter, Ferhad Mirza responded to et-Tavilî with a letter that began with the verse "We recognize neither a sheikh nor do we heed the pious; all we know is the face of the cupbearer and the glass of wine."

To this, Muhammed Bahâeddîn replied with a verse of his own: "We recognize neither a lord nor a sultan; either you become just and generous, or you perish immediately."

Death

Muhammed Bahâeddîn died in 1881 (H. 1298) in Tavila. He was buried near the grave of his father.

After his death, the responsibility of guiding and continuing his mission was carried out by his son, Ali Hisam-ad-Din Naqshbandi.

Works

• Mir'ât-ül-Kâmil

References

1. Evliyalar Ansiklopedisi. pp. 6.cild, s.16.
2. Müderris, 'Ulemâunâ. pp. s. 525.
3. Müderris, Ulemaunâ. pp. s. 603.
4. Müderris, Yâd-ı Merdân. pp. II, 67.
5. Muhsin Müftü, Gevher-i Hakîkat. pp. I, 218.
6. Muhsin Müftü, Gevher-i Hakîkat. pp. I, 218.

• 1836 births
• 1881 deaths
• 19th-century poets from Ottoman Iraq
• Iraqi Sufis
• Naqshbandi order
• Sufi saints