Person in the Tomb
While sources differ on his exact name, he is widely known by his pen name Şemʿî.
He was especially known for his Persian commentaries and translations of major classical texts such as Gulistan and Bustan by Saʿdī, the Divan of Hāfiz, Masnavi, and Bahāristān.
During the reigns of Sultan Murad III and Sultan Mehmed III, Şemʿî established close ties with grand viziers and ministers of the time, and taught at prominent madrasas in Istanbul.
He was affiliated with the Mevlevi order and emphasized harmony between Sufi spirituality and Islamic law in his writings.
About the Mausoleum
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Featured Highlights
The current tomb is a modest domed chamber, rebuilt in concrete.
The grave features a large stone placed atop it, with an original couplet inscribed on the wall dated 1000 AH (1591–92 CE):
“May God illuminate the house of your heart,
And may prayers rise for the soul of Şemʿî.”
There is a hacet (wish) window in the outer wall of the tomb, allowing visitors to pray from outside.
The tomb stands near Şemʿî Efendi’s former home, with only a window opening toward the street separating his residence from the grave.
Today, it is protected by a small courtyard wall and a simple domed roof.
It remains one of the few accessible and preserved poet’s tombs within the old urban fabric of Üsküdar.
