Ahmed Aflaki

Ahmed Eflâkî (Şemseddîn Ahmed el-Eflâkî el-Ârifî) is a Mevlevi author who lived in Konya in the 14th century. He is the author of the Persian book Menâkıbü'l-ârifîn, which contains the most comprehensive information about Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî and his environment. He died in Konya in 1360.

His place and date of birth are not certain; It is thought that he was born in the late 13th century. It is understood that he comes from a cultured family and received a good education before coming to Konya. He took lessons from teachers such as Mesnevihan Sirâceddin in Konya. He was nicknamed Eflaki because he was interested in astronomy.

Next to Arif Çelebi

He became attached to Mevlana's grandson Ulu Arif Çelebi and did not leave his side until his death; The title "Arifi" comes from this commitment. He traveled to many cities of Anatolia with his sheikh and went as far as Tabriz. The observations he gained and the narrations he heard during these journeys formed the material of his later work.

Menâkıbü'l-ârifîn

He started writing the work after Arif Çelebi's death around 1318. He quickly completed the first text, then expanded it over many years; He gave its final form approximately two years before his death. The book, consisting of ten chapters, tells about Mevlana, Şems-i Tebrîzî, Selâhaddin Zerkûb, Hüsâmeddin Çelebi, Sultan Veled and Arif Çelebi in the form of legends, starting from Mevlana's father, Bahaeddin Veled.

Although it should be used with caution from a historical perspective since it has the nature of a hagiography, it is the main source for the early period of Mevlevi order and Konya of the period. The work has also been translated into Turkish. There are also a few Turkish poems recorded in his name.

Eflaki died in Konya in 1360 and was buried near the Mevlana Tomb.