Mehmed Hilmi Efendi

Mehmed Hilmi Efendi, whose date of birth is unknown, was born in Tırnova, now within the borders of Bulgaria.

During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II, he served as a member of the Tedkik-i Müellefat Committee, which examined religious and scholarly works to be printed. Salname records show that Tırnovalı Mehmed Hilmi Efendi served on this committee in the years 1318-1319 and 1321-1326.

Mehmed Hilmi Efendi, one of the dersiâms of Fatih Mosque, also served as a mukarrir in the Huzur Dersleri. The Huzur Dersleri were Qur’anic commentary lessons held before the sultan during Ramadan; mukarrir was the title given to the scholar who delivered these lessons.

Between 1909 and 1915, he served as mukarrir in the Huzur Dersleri, and later left this duty after being granted the Haremeyn-i Muhteremeyn pâye. The Haremeyn pâye was one of the highly prestigious ilmiye degrees connected with the judgeships of Mecca and Medina.

Tırnovalı el-Hac Hafız Mehmed Hilmi Efendi died on 7 Shawwal 1334 (7 August 1916) and was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.