“Who was Abdullah El Ensari?” someone might ask. Let me tell you about Hz. Abdullah el-Ensari R.A. This revered figure was among the Medineli Shahid Sahabes. They came to this region during the siege of Istanbul.
Hz. Abdullah el-Ensari R.A. was a fighter from Medina. He joined the siege. Legend says he was martyred in the same battle where Hasan and Huseyin R.A. fell. Today his türbe or tomb stands in Istanbul’s Fatih district.
Specifically the Abdullah El Ensari Türbesi is at the intersection of Sultan Çeşmesi Street and Püsküllü Caddesi. You can still visit it. It is located below Hocam Kasım Günani Mosque.
Many sahabes were interested in Istanbul because of Hz. Muhammed’s hadiths. These hadiths foretold the city’s conquest. Sahabes like Abdullah b. Ömer participated in Istanbul sieges. Many sahabes were buried here. This includes Halid b. Zeyd Ebu Eyyub el-Ensari. He is known as Eyüp Sultan.
The graves of sahabes became important for later Muslim campaigns. From Fatih’s time onwards türbes were built over graves like Halid b. Zeyd Ebu Eyyub el-Ansari. Some had commemorative sites erected.
Even those who came with sahabes and died during sieges were considered “sahabi” by Istanbul’s people. Their graves were also honored. These figures connected Istanbul residents to faraway holy lands. It was a spiritual link for those who could not travel.
These graves and memorials brought the closeness of life and death to people. They became spiritual centers for the city. Around 30 Sahabe graves and memorials exist in Istanbul. These sites were valued by the public and rulers alike. Sultans built türbes for them. They also ensured their repair and upkeep.
The most famous sahabi in Istanbul is Halid b. Zeyd Ebu Eyyub el-Ensari. He was the “Host of the Messenger.” Fatih Sultan Mehmed built the Eyüp Sultan Türbe and its complex first. It included a mosque a madrasa an almshouse and a bath. Sultan Ahmed I expanded the türbe. Selim III Mahmud II and Abdülhamid II contributed significantly.
The sword girding ceremony for Ottoman rulers took place here. This made the türbe a key part of state protocol. Sultans visited the türbe before and after important events. After his burial the Byzantines also visited this sahabi’s grave.
After the conquest the people of Istanbul saw it as a branch of holy lands. They drew parallels between this grave and the Prophet’s tomb in Medina. Taverns gambling houses and theaters were banned in the area. Those going to Mecca would visit here first.
Foreign visitors considered Eyüpsultan the most beautiful spiritual place. Some non-Muslims in Eyüpsultan visited Eyüp Sultan Türbe every morning. They did this before opening their businesses. For some the presence of Eyüp Sultan Türbe was a reason to visit Istanbul. His presence elevated Istanbul among religious pilgrimage destinations. This continues today.
Ebu Şeybe el-Hudri el-Ensari was the Prophet’s foster brother. He was around 85-90 years old during the siege. He was martyred inside the walls. His türbe in Ayvansaray’s Tokludede Haziresi was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmed. It was as popular as Eyüp Sultan Türbe. Bayezid II Çorlulu Ali Pasha and Mahmud II repaired and maintained it. Many sahabes were martyred in this area. It became known as “sahabeler haziresi” or Sahabes Cemetery.
Other notable türbes in the vicinity include those of Hz. Hamdullah el-Ensari. Also Hz. Ahmed el-Ensari Hz. Muhammed el-Ensari and Hz. Ka’b. These türbes stand as testaments to the enduring legacy. They remind us of the sacrifices made during the siege of Istanbul. Remember Hz. Abdullah el-Ensari R.A. His story is woven into the fabric of this city.