Kocabeyzade Abdülhadi Efendi was a professor, that is, a university lecturer, who was respected by everyone in Ankara in the 18th century. His family was one of the well-known families of Ankara Altındağ. In any case, scientists, judges and physicians were always born from this family.

In those years, people gave great importance to performing their five daily prayers in congregation in the mosque. It was a winter day. Abdulhadi Efendi was going to the mosque after leaving the madrasah. When he entered through the courtyard of the mosque, his heart ached when he saw the state of the believers who took ablution with cold water in the fountain. He had just made his ablution with warm water. He should have wished for his believing brother what he wanted for himself. Our religion commanded this morality. Well, how would he find hot water for those who performed ablution here in such a winter in those years? He thought about it all day. He thought about this at night… He remembered that Fatih was running the ships by land. “As long as you ask… Of course, there will be a way!” was saying…

And one day…

It was the day of going to the bath. The tradition of the bath was already an indication of the importance given to cleanliness by the Ottoman society. Every neighborhood had at least one Turkish bath and there was always hot water.

-I found it, said Kocabeyzade Ebdulhadi Efendi…

Just like in the baths, if the water was heated in the ablution room, this problem would be solved by itself. A sturdy and bulky boiler and firewood were needed to heat water. Abdulhadi Efendi established a foundation to meet these needs. He placed a boiler in a suitable part of the mosque and arranged the outbuildings to run hot water. Then, in his charter, he clearly stated the purpose of the foundation: “The water in the cauldron, including the said outbuilding, in the mosque, will always be heated with wood provided by our foundation during winter days, and Muslims will be able to perform ablution with this hot water.”

Is it possible not to feel the human warmth of this foundation, which ensures that those who make ablutions do not feel cold in the winter-on end?