Hacı Raşid Efendi

El-Hâc Raşid Efendi served as an inspector in the Şehremaneti organization of late Ottoman Istanbul. The Şehremaneti, established in 1855 as the first form of modern municipal administration in Istanbul, carried out work related to urban order, municipal inspection, cleaning, construction and daily city services.

Raşid Efendi’s duty was directly connected with the regulation and supervision of daily urban life in Istanbul. The office of Şehremaneti inspector was a field-facing position within Istanbul’s municipal order. Municipal inspectors and related officials had the authority to inspect the application of municipal rules in public spaces such as inns, baths, shops, coffeehouses and theatres.

Inspector Raşid Efendi, who should not be confused with sheikhs, mosque founders or other officials bearing the same name, died on 12 Ramadan 1321 (2 December 1903) and was buried in the Fatih Mosque Cemetery.