Eyüp Sultan Tomb
About the Person:
- Ebu Eyyüb el-Ensari, whose real name is Khalid bin Zeyd, was from the Khazraj tribe of Medina. When the Prophet Muhammad migrated, he had the honor of hosting him in his home and was remembered in Islamic history as the “host of the Messenger of Allah”.
- He took part in many expeditions and participated in one of the first major campaigns of the Islamic armies against Byzantium, the siege of Constantinople, and was martyred there, while still an elderly person.
- His last wish was to be buried in the closest place to the walls of Istanbul. According to his will, he was buried outside the city walls, in today’s Eyüpsultan district
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1453-1459
Ordered by: Mehmed the Conqueror
Architect: Unknown
Prominent Features:
- The tomb is a domed structure with an octagonal plan.
- Inside the tomb is the coffin of Ebu Eyyüb el-Ensari; it is covered and surrounded by numerous calligraphy panels.
- It is in the same courtyard as the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and is architecturally integrated with the mosque.
- There are iron grids for visitors who want to pray at the tomb windows.
- The fact that Ottoman sultans performed the sword-girding ceremony here before ascending to the throne gave the tomb holiness during state ceremonies.
- The tomb was restored at various periods by many Ottoman sultans such as Selim I, Selim III and Mahmud II.
- Baroque style decorations were added during extensive repairs carried out in the 18th century.
- It is the most sacred shrine in Istanbul, always open as a place of pilgrimage.
