“Akbaba Sultan rests here” a local whispers as we approach. Akbaba in Istanbul is more than just a neighborhood. It is a place steeped in history and spirituality.
Akbaba is a neighborhood within the Beykoz district of Istanbul. Its story is intertwined with the life of Akbaba Sultan. He was a Bektashi Sufi baba. He actively participated in the Conquest of Constantinople. Furthermore, he served as a mentor to Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.
After the Conquest in the 15th century, Akbaba Sultan chose this valley. Spring waters flowed here. He established a tekke. Dervish murids joined him. This tekke became a center for spiritual learning.
Canfeda Hatun also left her mark here. She was a noblewoman. She attended to Sultan Murad III’s mother. In 1588, she completed a mosque. It still bears her name.
However, the Sufi complex faced challenges. In 1826, the Auspicious Incident led to the closure of Bektashi lodges. Akbaba Tekke fell into disuse. Followers were exiled.
Later, Sultan Abdulhamid II revived the tekke. He turned it over to Shaykh Abdulhakim. Abdulkadir Pasha helped rebuild the center. After Shaykh Abdulhakim died in 1889 he was buried near Akbaba Sultan. The Akbaba Cemetery grew around them.
His son Ahmed Mansur Mukerrem Efendi continued his work. He was active until 1925. In that year, all tekkes and zawiyas became illegal. This was part of Mustafa Kemal’s reforms.
Religious institutions began to reappear after 1950. By then, most of the tekke buildings were destroyed. Only the mosque and harem section remained. The harem became an imam’s office.
The government of President Erdogan supported religious institutions. In the 2000s the mosque was restored. It was rebuilt again in the 2010s. It stayed true to its original wooden form. A stone foundation was added. The complex regained its borders. Landscaping and a stone wall completed the restoration.
A Rifai tekke once stood in Akbaba. It fell into disuse. It rotted away. It was demolished for safety. Only its graveyard remains.
Today Akbaba is also known for its greenery. Turkish TV series are often filmed here. It offers a peaceful escape from the city.
Akbaba is a place where history whispers through the trees. The legacy of Akbaba Sultan lives on. The neighborhood is a testament to faith, resilience, and renewal.