Zenbilli Ali Efendi Tomb

Fahreddin er-Razî’s descendant and the grandson of Cemâleddin Aksarâyî, son of Ahmed Çelebi; thus also known by the nisba Cemâlî. He became popularly known as Zenbilli Müftü (the Mufti with the basket) for receiving and answering legal questions via a basket lowered from his house window.
He received his first education from his grandfather Mevlânâ Hamza and studied under Molla Hüsrev and Mevlana Hüsâmzâde. He served as a professor and mufti in Edirne, Bursa, Amasya, and Istanbul. Though dismissed during Karamânî Mehmed Paşa’s term, he regained his status due to his reputation.
Appointed to the Istanbul Sultan Madrasah by Bayezid II, he became the city’s mufti and laid the foundation of the office of sheikh al-Islam.
During his pilgrimage, he stayed in Egypt for a year due to unrest in Mecca. He was known for his legal integrity in opposition to Yavuz Sultan Selim, and he continued as mufti under Süleyman the Magnificent. He led the first Friday prayer in the Cathedral of Saint John after the conquest of Rhodes. After serving as mufti for 24 years, he died in 1526 and was buried beside the mosque he built in Zeyrek, Istanbul.

Construction Year: 16th century

Ordered by: Unknown

Architect: Unknown

Prominent Features:

Located adjacent to the mosque and school built by Zenbilli Ali Efendi himself.
Constructed with classical Ottoman stonework using alternating courses of finely cut stone and brick.
The tomb has a simple rectangular or square plan and is covered with a dome. Its walls feature low-arched windows with original iron grilles.
The wooden door is framed by a classic Ottoman stone arch, flanked by inscriptions and explanatory plaques.
Set within a small courtyard/graveyard, it is surrounded by vegetation and several other graves. The tomb itself has an open-type sarcophagus and is adorned with flowers.