Nasuhi Mehmet Efendi Tomb

Nasuhi Mehmet Efendi was born between 1648 and 1653 in Toygartepesi, Üsküdar. He came from a seyyid family within the sipahi class. His given name was Mehmet; “Nasuhi” derives from his father’s name.
He received his education in Üsküdar and joined the Halveti-Şabani path under the guidance of Sheikh Karabaş Veli at a young age.
At only 25, he began his spiritual guidance in Mudurnu and visited his exiled master multiple times in Limnos. He returned to Üsküdar in 1685 and established his own dergah in 1688.
In 1705, he was appointed as the preacher-sheikh of Eyüp Sultan Mosque. In 1714, he was exiled to Kastamonu but allowed to return two years later. He passed away on August 14, 1718, and was buried in the graveyard of his dergah.
He was the founder of the Nasuhiyye branch of the Halveti-Şabani order. Known for his piety, asceticism, and the establishment of the Miraciyye recitation tradition—first read in his dergah.
Two separate menakıbname (hagiographic works) were written about his life and miracles. After his death, the office of sheikhdom was passed to his descendants, known as the Nasuhizades.

Construction Year: 1718

Ordered by: Unknown

Architect: Unknown

Prominent Features:

The tomb is located to the left of the Nasuhi Mehmet Efendi Mosque. Originally built with wooden materials like the mosque, it gained its current form during a renovation in 1863. It has a rectangular plan, masonry stone walls, a wooden roof, and receives daylight through four windows.
The tomb is part of the main structure at the center of the site, composed of the tomb, mosque/tevhidhane, and selamlık sections aligned east to west.
To the north lies a courtyard believed to have contained former dervish cells and now features a stone outbuilding (meşruta). In the west, within a large garden, was a two-part harem section accessible via a side gate opening to the courtyard and the graveyard; a prayer window (niyaz penceresi) on the southern facade reflects this connection.
Inside the tomb are ten wooden sarcophagi belonging to Nasuhi Efendi, his wife, and their descendants. His own sarcophagus is larger than the others, surrounded by a brass grille, and placed under an eight-pointed star motif on the ceiling for emphasis.
The other sarcophagi are encircled by carved wooden railings. Calligraphic panels featuring quotes from Nasuhi Efendi and other Halveti masters adorn the walls of the tomb and the adjoining mosque/tevhidhane.