İmâdüddin Mustafa bin İbrâhim bin İnac al-Kırşehrî (died in 1326), often known as Sheikh Edebali, was a Muslim Sheikh of the Ahi brotherhood, who helped shape and develop the policies of the growing Ottoman State. He became the first Qadi of the Ottoman Empire. He was the father of Rabia Bala Hatun, who was the wife of Osman Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

Interaction with Ottoman leaders

Edebali often conversed with his close friend Ertuğrul Gazi, the father of Osman I about Islam and the state of affairs of Muslims in Anatolia. Osman had been a frequent guest of Edebali. Edebali became Osman's mentor and eventually gifted him a Gazi sword. Osman at Edebali's dergah, dreamed of a state. This dream thus led to the establishment of a state. After this, Edebali's daughter Bala Hatun was married to Osman I. As a result of this marriage, all the Ahyan sheikhs came under the Ottoman control. This had a major impact on the establishment and development of the Ottoman Beylik.

Advice to Osman I

Edebali's advice to his son-in-law, Osman I, shaped and developed Ottoman administration and rule for six centuries. In one famous declaration, Edebali told Osman: O my son! Now you are king! From now on, wrath is for us; for you, calmness! For us to be offended; for you to please! For us to accuse; for you to endure! For us, helplessness and error; for you, tolerance! For us, quarrel; for you, justice! For us, envy, rumor, slander; for you, forgiveness! O my son! From now on, it is for us to divide; for you to unite! For us, sloth; for you, warning and encouragement! O my son! Be patient, a flower does not bloom before its time. Never forget: Let man flourish, and the state will also flourish! O my son! Your burden is heavy, your task hard, your power hangs on a hair! May God be your helper! ""

In popular culture

Sheikh Edebali has been portrayed in the Turkish television series; Kuruluş "Osmancık" (1988), Diriliş: Ertuğrul (2014 - 2019) and Kuruluş: Osman (2019 - present).