The whispering stones of Ya Vedud Camii hold secrets. Secrets of sultans and sheikhs. Secrets whispered across centuries.
Right here before you stands Ya Vedud Camii. Also known as Sultan Camii or Ya Vedud Tekkesi. Its history stretches back to the 15th 18th and 19th centuries. A testament to the enduring power of faith in Istanbul.
Sheikh Abdulvedud its founder is a legend. He was among the Buhara saints. They fought in the siege of Istanbul. After the conquest he lived near Hagia Sophia. He built a mosque and a lodge in Ayvansaray. He died and was buried near his lodge in 860 AH (1455-56). Fatih Sultan Mehmed himself ordered his burial. Tokmak Dede a successor continued his work. His tomb too rests nearby on Tokmak Tepe.
Time wore on. The mosque fell into ruin. The endowment was neglected. Then Hatice Sultan daughter of Sultan Mehmed IV intervened. She was a remarkable woman. She rebuilt the mosque in the 18th century. She added a school a fountain and a madrasa. She also built a tomb for Muhammed Ensari. This revitalization earned it the name Sultan Camii.
In 1151 AH (1738-39) Hatice Sultan added a pulpit. She endowed the mosque with significant income-generating properties. She ensured its ongoing upkeep. She is still remembered and honored. She lies buried within the mosque’s complex alongside her father and brothers. Her death date is 1156 AH (1743-44).
The main entrance of Ya Vedud Camii is striking. It features a large arched gate. An inscription reads Selamun Aleykum and the date 5 Cemaziyelahir 1219 (11 September 1804). This marks a later restoration. Down a flight of stairs is a lower level. There you find four tombs. Only one is identified. The inscription reads Mehmed bin Abdullah 1097. The mosque’s minaret is a lovely feature. It is capped with a distinctive tiled dome. The minaret base and the basement predate the present structure. The wooden pulpit and the entire mosque are made of wood.
Ya Vedud a name of God meaning O Beloved is a fitting name for this sacred place. Ya Vedud Camii has witnessed centuries of prayers. It has seen joy and sorrow. It is a living testament to the strength of faith in Istanbul. Its stories continue to unfold.