Places to visit in Istanbul during Ramadan

Yesterday's Zaman came out with an interesting (and for me, very appropriate) list of places to visit in Istanbul during Ramadan.

Here is the link (I've copied the text below): http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=154186

Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to see all of these places. Indeed, I am not terribly keen on most of them. However, in sha Allah, I will at least try to see the first (Eyup) and last (relics) over the next few days. I am planning on spending tonight (Laylatul Qadr, possibly) at Eyup. We'll see what happens, in sha Allah.

I've got a lot more to say - but it might have to wait until after Bayram/Eid - too busy these days. I'm keeping notes in my phone so I don't forget, in sha Allah.






Top 10 places to visit in İstanbul during Ramadan

İstanbul, an amazing city that rests on two continents, is home to many historical and tourist sites, which tourists visiting Turkey long to see.

If your tour to İstanbul has come at the holy month of Ramadan, you should absolutely spare a few days to visit some spiritual sites, which draw thousands of domestic and foreign tourists during this month. Here are the top 10 places to be visited in this wonderful city during the month of holy Ramadan:

The tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, is adjacent to the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and is one of the outstanding structures in the district of Eyüp. The tomb has always been a center of attraction, drawing thousands of visitors every month. The number of visitors to the tomb increases significantly during religious holidays, Friday prayers and the holy month of Ramadan in particular. Since Abu Ayyub al-Ansari’s tomb is situated in Eyüp, thousands of prominent personalities have been buried in its vicinity. Today, the Eyüp cemetery is one of the largest in İstanbul, but it is difficult to find a plot there as almost every pious Muslim would like to be buried there in the hope of being raised on the Day of Judgment together with the Prophet’s companion.

The tombs of 28 sahabas (companions of the Prophet Muhammad) are known to be in İstanbul. These sahabas are said to have come to İstanbul with the Umayyads and the Abbasids -- both of which tried to conquer the city. They were buried in İstanbul after dying here. The tombs of 12 sahabas are situated in the Suriçi area (near the city walls), nine are in Ayvansaray, four are in Eyüp, three in Karaköy (Yeraltı Mosque) and one in Karacaahmet. The tombs of these sahabas attract dozens of visitors every day.

The tomb of Yahya Efendi, a relative of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, was designed by famous Turkish architect Mimar Sinan upon a request by Süleyman’s son Selim II. The tomb is situated in the Beşiktaş district and is a spot frequently visited by tourists.

The tomb of Merkez Efendi is in Zeytinburnu. Merkez Efendi is known to be the creator of the Manisa mesir macunu (a spicy paste which is supposed to restore health, youth and potency). The story of Merkez Efendi’s discovery of mesir macunu is as follows: Süleyman the Magnificent’s mother, Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, became terribly ill and doctors were unable to help her. However, she was able to recover thanks to a spicy paste provided by the director of the Darüşşifa (a hospital), Merkez Efendi. After seeing enormous demand from the public, mesir macunu then started to be distributed to the public from the domes and minarets of mosques built by sultans. Gaining international fame over time, the distribution of mesir evolved into a festival. During the festival, small packages of mesir macunu are thrown from mosques. The mayor of Zeytinburnu notes that the tomb of Merkez Efendi is visited by many from around the world every year.

The Hırka-i Şerif Mosque, constructed in 1851 in the Fatih district, is where the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad (Hırka-i Şerif) is on display. The cloak remains on display throughout the month of Ramadan, and every year thousands of people from all around Turkey flock to the mosque to see the holy garment.

The Tomb of Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi is in Üsküdar. Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi was a Sufi saint who asked of God the following: “Those who visit my tomb after I pass away and who recite the Fatiha (the opening chapter of the Holy Quran) here belong to our lodge. I pray to You that those who love me will not drown at sea, will not suffer from poverty all their lives and will not pass away before they have total faith in You.”

The tomb of Sünbül Efendi, located in İstanbul’s Kocamustafapaşa neighborhood, is part of a complex that goes by the same name as the district and is the resting place of Sünbül Efendi, the founder of the Sünbüliyya branch of the Halveti order of dervishes. The tomb, built in 1529, is in the garden of the Kocamustafapaşa complex. Its present structure is mainly the result of major renovations it underwent during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II (1808-1839) and restoration undertaken by Grand Vizier Mehmet Rıza Paşa prior to 1920.

The tomb of Ya Vedud Sultan is situated in Ayvansaray. He is believed to have preached to his followers that the conquest of a place should be through spiritual guidance, not with swords. His tomb is a frequently visited place in İstanbul.

The Yuşa Mosque in the Yuşa Tepe neighborhood features a lodge and a tomb. While some claim that this complex belongs to Prophet Yuşa, others say it was named after a dervish of the same name.

Sacred relics of the Prophet are being kept and exhibited in a special section of Topkapı Palace. The relics were brought here by Yavuz Sultan Selim I upon his conquest of Egypt in 1517. The sacred relics include chests containing the Holy Mantle of Prophet Muhammad and the Holy Banner (Sancak-ı Şerif), the Prophet’s swords, his letters (Name-i Saadet), some hairs from his beard (Lihye-i Saadet), a casket containing soil from his tomb, a reliquary containing one of his teeth (Dendan-i Saadet), locks of the Kaaba and his footprint.

25 September 2008, Thursday
MUSTAFA AYDIN İSTANBUL