A Hitherto Lost Work of an Ottoman Scholar in South Africa: Abu Bakr Effendi’s Miftah Al-Din

Abstract

The activities and experiences of Ebubekir Efendi (d. 1297/1880), who was appointed by the Ottoman State to educate the Muslim population in South Africa and resolve conflicts among them in the Cape of Good Hope until his death, have been the subject of numerous studies. Additionally, the impact of his works on Afrikaans holds a sig-nificant place in research on the Afrikaans language. This article presents a previously undiscovered work by Ebubekir Efendi, whose name was known but whose manuscript had not been found until now. The article discusses the writing process of Ebubekir Efendi’s work, resolves a debate surrounding his existing works, and presents opinions and assessments regarding the newfound book’s importance from various perspectives. © 2023, Istanbul 29 Mayis University - ISAM, TDV Centre for Islamic Studies. All rights reserved.