In the heart of Istanbul, in the historical district of Unkapanı, there is an inconspicuous tomb. It contains a sixteenth-century artisan who was considered the greatest sinner in the city during his lifetime, and after his death received the title of saint. Discover the unusual story of a man whose funeral was organized by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire himself.
Official historical sources refer to him as Na’lınî Dede Meczub Mimi Şeyh Mehmed Halvetî. This Bergama-born mystic and sheikh of the Halveti Order arrived in the then imperial capital during the reign of Sultan Murad III. . He ran a modest workshop daily in front of the Azaplar Mosque, where he made nalin , the traditional wooden clogs commonly used in Ottoman public baths.
Appearance and the double life of a craftsman
Among the local community, the craftsman enjoyed a fatal reputation. : neighbors regularly saw him buying huge quantities of wine and spending time in the company of women of dubious origin. The truth about his real motives became known only after his death in 1592. Then it turned out that the alleged sinner was actually a man with a big heart.
The man bought alcohol solely in order to secretly pour it down the drain, thereby limiting its consumption in the city. In return, the courtesans ‘ generous pay was used to provide them with a safe haven and rest, which protected them from the onerous work of the street. . Moreover, all the proceeds from the mystic’s workshop were intended for the anonymous support of widows, orphans and the poorest residents of sixteenth-century Istanbul.
Intervention of Sultan Murad III
According to a popular urban legend, Sultan Murad III learned about the sanctity of the deceased through a prophetic dream, struck by the attitude of the craftsman, the ruler decided to take an unprecedented step-personally, accompanied by the highest religious dignitaries, he organized the funeral ceremony.
According to the last will of the deceased, the Sultan ordered him to be buried exactly on the site of his former workshop. He also established a substantial mausoleum, an adjacent monastery, and a public fountain there.
Miraculous rescue and modern traditions
Built in a square plan, the tomb (the so-called. türbe), crowned with a high dome, quickly became a place of worship, helped by the fact that it is the only building in the entire district that survived the later devastating fire in Istanbul, completely resisting the flames.
In 2022, the historic complex underwent a major renovation by the authorities of Istanbul’s Fatih district. The historic structure was protected, the fountain was renovated, and the interior of the mausoleum was renovated, preserving it for future generations.
To this day, tourists and locals who visit this place cultivate a unique custom-throwing coins into the tomb. is not only a symbolic request for prosperity, but, above all, a tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the artisan and a souvenir from the bag of gold that Sultan Murad III gave his family after learning the truth.
