A walk through the old sections of Istanbul and one will inevitably come across many graves and mausoleums. For the keen-eyed, it will be a journey through Islamic history, a ‘who’s who’ of notable players in some of the greatest moments, as well as the darkest. It is a journey I recommend any traveller in Istanbul to take.
Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al Ansari
While the tombs of Istanbul are numerous, there are several that standout in importance and are highly recommended to visit. The greatest of these is the grave of Sultan Eyüp. Located outside the once formidable walls of Constantinople, this is the resting place of Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al Ansari (ra), the Companion of the Prophet ﷺ. He came as an old man with the first wave of Muslim armies that reached the city, but died outside its walls. Legend will tell you that his grave was lost to the ages only to be rediscovered during the Ottoman siege of 1453, but one thing is certain, few places in the city are so blessed. It was here that sultans were enthroned, and where every journey to and from the city started and ended, and to this day, Eyüp remains one of the most important landmarks of Istanbul where thousands of people make zirayat (visitation) daily.
Muhammad al Fatih
The army that accompanied Abu Ayyub al Ansari (ra) was not destined to take the city in which he now rests; instead some 800 years would pass when a young Ottoman ruler would open the city to Islam and change the course of history.
This young sultan was Muhammad al Fatih (or Mehmet as he is known in Turkish). His tomb is located next to the mosque named after him, Fatih Camii, a beautiful structure whose silhouette adorns Istanbul’s skyline. If you visit permits only one sultan, then it should be no other than this ruler, who was the promised leader mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ in his well-known hadith regarding the conquest of Constantinople.
The Spiritual Guides
Following these visits, an innumerable number of options becomes available. A large number of Sahaba are buried in and around the city, although it should be noted that some of these graves are merely honorary so careful research is recommended. Then there are the awliyah, the saints of Istanbul. Many of them served as spiritual guides to the sultans such as the great ascetic, Shaykh Yahya Efendi who was the ‘milk brother’ of Sultan Sulayman the Magnificent. His tomb can be found in the district of Beşiktaş.
There is also Shaykh Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi, the spiritual master of no less than seven sultans, who is buried in Üsküdar on Istanbul’s Asian shore and Shaykh Muhammad Zafar al Madani, the spiritual guide of Sultan Abdulhamid II who is also located in Beşiktaş. It is interesting to note that despite their spiritual feats or the fame of their students, some of these maqams are busy with traffic while others may only see the odd visitor.
Notable Historical Figures
Lastly, before the great multitude of common graves, there are the maqams of notable contributors to Islamic civilization; officials of the state, military leaders, judges and more, such as the famed architect Mimar Sinan. His simple grave in the district of Fatih, is a true testament to the humility and spiritual acumen of the man who designed some of the greatest structures in the Islamic world.
There is also the tomb of Heydreddin Barbarossa, the great admiral and Muslim hero of the Mediterranean, also located in Beşiktaş. In times such as we live in now, it is important to remember figures that we can be proud of, such as the likes of Şemsi Ahmet Pasa, an Ottoman official who built a small mosque in the exact dimensions of the Ka’aba in Üsküdar, from where the Imperial Ottoman Hajj caravan would depart, as a means of preparing the pilgrims for their destination.
These are but a handful of maqams to visit so one can ponder, pay homage, or at the very least, recite Al Fatiha at the foot of the graves of these amazing people from the very fabric of our history, and at the same time, explore new parts of this amazing city.
