Istanbul is like a treasure of high spiritual value, hosting the graves of many companions, saints and friends of God. The acceptance of these special people as the spiritual protectors of Istanbul is among the beliefs that shape the mystical and spiritual texture of the city. Istanbul has been the favorite of many rulers over the centuries, witnessed different conquests and turned into the eternal resting place of many important figures. Although there are hundreds of shrines in the city, little is known about the history of some of them.
Istanbul is a city that was tried to be captured and besieged many times before the Ottoman period and attracted the attention of the world. Even our Prophet Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) for Istanbul, “Istanbul will definitely be conquered. What a great commander is the commander who conquers it, what a great army that army is.” He placed a special value on this city with his hadith.
Istanbul attracts attention with the mystical hosting of the saints and spiritual figures in the legends in this city. The personalities who are considered to be the providers of this spiritual atmosphere are seen as the spiritual protectors of Istanbul.
Sailors Would Not Set Off Without Greeting the Four Friends of God
The graves of the four saints, who are called the spiritual protectors of Istanbul, are located in a mutual order on both sides of the city. Located in Beykoz His Holiness Joshuain Sarıyer with the tomb of Telli Baba‘s tomb; Located in Üsküdar Aziz Mahmud Hudayi With His Excellency in Beşiktaş Yahya Efendi‘s tomb is located opposite each other on both sides of the Bosphorus. The tombs of these spiritual leaders are buried on the banks of the Bosphorus, are located in a symmetrical arrangement to each other.
According to tradition, Muslim and Christian sailors would not continue their journey without greeting the four friends of God while crossing the Bosphorus. captains, He begins his expeditions with the support of these great spiritual figures. and they would inherit a tradition that continued through the years. During their travels, they would recite the Fatiha to His Holiness Hüdayi while passing through Üsküdar, to Yahya Efendi while passing by Beşiktaş, to Yuşa Aleyhisselam while passing through Beykoz, and to the buried Telli Baba on the Sarıyer side. This tradition, which continued until the last periods of the Ottoman Empire, remained an important and meaningful memory in the history of Istanbul.
Hz. Prophet Joshua
Yuşa Hazretleri Hill is located on the ridge of the Anadolu Kavağı district and is 201 meters above sea level. According to rumors, this hill, Hz. To the tomb of Prophet Joshua hosts. Offering a magnificent Bosphorus view, Yuşa Hill is one of the highest points in Istanbul and the second highest hill in the city after Çamlıca Hill.
The person resting in this tomb is Hz. It is believed that he is the Prophet Joshua. According to rumors, Hz. Prophet Moses. The young person who took part in the meeting with Hızır at the seaside is Hz. There are stories about Joshua being a prophet. According to rumors, Hz. Joshua, Hz. Moses He came to Boğaziçi with him and died here. After his death, he was buried on the highest hill overlooking the Bosphorus and the Black Sea at the same time.
The discovery of his grave is described as follows: Yahya EfendiHz. in his dreams for three nights in a row. He saw Joshua and Hz. Joshua said, “I am Prophet Joshua, I am lying here on the hill. He said, “Come, find my place and visit me.” Yahya Efendi, who saw this dream, immediately went to the hill and examined the surroundings. When he reached the hill, he met a shepherd and asked the shepherd if there was any extraordinary event in this region. The shepherd stated that it was an area where his sheep never grazed and his animals never passed over this place. Upon this answer, Yahya Efendi perceived this situation as a spiritual sign and sent Hz. He discovered the tomb of Prophet Joshua and surrounded it with a wall. Ottoman sultans also Hz. They showed respect to Yusha’s grave. For example, in 1755, Grand Vizier Yirmisekiz Mehmet Çelebi, Hz. He had a mosque built in the name of Yusha.
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Yahya Efendi
One of the important scholars of the Ottoman Empire Tomb of Yahya Efendii is located next to Yıldız Park, which overlooks the magnificent view of the Bosphorus. Foster brother of Suleiman the Magnificent Yahya Efendi wins the love of the people of Istanbul in a short time. Suleiman the Magnificent “My brother, my teacher!Yahya Efendi, whom he addressed by saying “”, said to the people who came to his lodge: “in love” he addresses. Suleiman the Magnificent benefited from his inspiration by attending dervish lodge conversations from time to time.
Yahya Efendi is known and respected not only among the Muslim community but also among non-Muslims. Yahya Efendi, who was known for helping non-Muslims choose Islam, was known among the Greeks for his “ability to steal hearts”. “Thief Saint” He is known as (Thief Saint).
Yahya Efendi, who was Sultan Suleiman’s advisor during his reign, received education at Üsküdar Mihrimah Sultan Madrasa and Sahn-ı Seman Madrasa in Fatih Mosque Complex. The Ottoman navy used to receive Yahya Efendi’s prayers before going on a voyage. After his death, sailors took care to visit Yahya Efendi’s grave on their return from the voyage.
After working as a professor at Cambaziye Madrasa, Yahya Efendi retired and retired to the area where his present tomb is located in Beşiktaş, where he built a house, a masjid, a bath, a fountain and a madrasah. The wooden-built tomb is decorated with intricate embroideries. There are 11 more sarcophagi inside the tomb.
Telli Baba
Telli Baba’s tomb, It is located in Sarıyer in Rumelikavağı. Although there is not much detailed information about him, there are different rumors. According to the first rumor, Telli Baba’s Yıldırım Beyazıt and II. murat It is claimed that he was one of those who besieged Istanbul during his reign.
The second narration is Suleyman ShahIt is believed that he was a Seljuk commander or alperen who took part in the army sent by Anatolia for the conquest of Anatolia. In addition, there is another rumor that Telli Baba, who is stated to be an important figure for sailors, may have been a companion or tabiin (a Muslim who saw the companion) who came with ships to besiege Istanbul with the Umayyad-Abbasid armies.
Hazrat Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi
His tomb is located in Doğancılar area of Üsküdar. Aziz Mahmud Hudayi Many stories circulate about His Holiness’ life. While he was working as a judge in Bursa, he left his job after having a dream and was inspired by his teacher Muhammed Üftade and went through various tests. For his service to his teacher, Üftade, Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi “My son! “Let the sultans follow him.” He prays like this. According to rumors, it is said that seven sultans kissed Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi’s hand.
Additionally, various stories circulate about Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi, who is described as one of the spiritual leaders of the Bosphorus. One of these is related to deaths at sea. During those times, many people lost their lives in the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn due to frequent capsizing of boats. In this situation, Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi is asked for help. He made his prayers and during this period, under the influence of Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi’s prayer, he went from Üsküdar to Sarayburnu. hüdayi road It is explained that it was formed.
The prayer of His Holiness Aziz Mahmut Hüdayi is as follows:
My God! Those who follow our path until the day of judgment, those who love us and those who come to our shrine once in their lives and recite the Fatiha to our souls are ours… Let those who belong to us not drown in the sea; They should not see poverty in the end of their lives; Let them not die unless they save their faith; Let them know that they will die, let them know, and let them not die by drowning in the sea!
