Ebu Derda Tomb
About the Person:
- Abu Darda, whose real name was Uwaymur bin Malik bin Qis bin Umayya, was one of the leading companions of the Prophet. He was praised by the Prophet Muhammad with the words “the judge of my nation” and “what a beautiful horseman he is.”
- He served as a judge; he served especially as the first judge of Islam in Damascus. He was sent to Damascus by Muawiyah upon the order of Caliph Umar.
- He is one of the important names in the fields of hadith, recitation and jurisprudence. It is stated that he narrated 179 hadiths. He was one of the companions who memorized the Quran. He died in Damascus in 652. This tomb in Istanbul is a maqam shrine (a shire attributed to sais person); there are also maqams attributed to him in Üsküdar Karacaahmet and Konya Ereğlisi.
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1835
Ordered by: Mahmud II
Architect: Unknown
Prominent Features:
- The tomb has a rectangular plan and is made of cut stone.
- There are two windows and a door on the side facing the street.
- Its wooden roof does not exist today.
- It was repaired by Mahmud II in 1835.
- Above the entrance gate, there is the signature of Sultan Mahmud II and an inscription of 6 couplets written by the poet Esad Efendi.
- The inscription states that the tomb was a place belonging to the companions of the Prophet and that Mahmud II had it renovated after visiting it.
- There are two uninscribed coffins inside; one belongs to Abu Derda’s tomb, the other to the tomb.
