Where is the yahya efendi lodge in istanbul? What is the history of yahya efendi?
Yahya Efendi lodge is situated in a dead-end street called Yahya Efendi in Yıldız district in Beşiktaş. It was built in 1538 by Yahya Efendi. He was a disciple of Uwaysi Sufi Order. The lodge which carries the characteristics of a kulliyah (Islamic-Ottoman social complex) has a mosque, tevhidhane (the place where sema (mevlevi) ritual was performed), madrasa, Turkish bath, and tombs in it.
Yahya Efendi, who was born in 1495 in Trabzon, was the son of Omer Efendi, the judge of the city of Trabzon. Suleyman, the son of Yavuz Sultan Selim, was born in the same year when his father was the governor of Trabzon. Because the mother of Suleyman, Hafsa Sultan’s milk was not enough, Yahya Efendi’s mother, Afife Sultan nursed the little Süleyman. So, Yahya Efendi was the nursing brother of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent.
After he got a well education in Trabzon, he wanted to continue his education and came to Istanbul. Then he became a student of Zenbilli Ali Efendi, the famous Sheikh al-Islam at that time. But 2 years later, his master passed away.
Yahya Efendi worked as a mudarris (professor) in some of the madrasas in Istanbul. But then, he quit professorship and started to spend time by studying and performing acts of worship in the masjid that he had built near his house in Beşiktaş.
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent showed great respect to this friend of Allah, who was also his nursing brother. There was a special relationship between them. Yahya Efendi sometimes was giving him advice while he sometimes was warning him. Later, Sulaiman’s son Sultan Selim II also continued to show the sheikh same respect and love as his father did.
Yahya Efendi, who dedicated his life to knowledge and worship, passed away in the evening of sacrificial festival in 1570. His funeral prayer was performed by Sheikh al-Islam Ebussuud Efendi in Suleymaniye Mosque. By the command of Sultan Selim II, Yahya Efendi’s tomb was built by Sinan the Architect.
Yahya Efendi, who was loved by all kinds of people, was especially visited by the sailors, and they brought him presents. Especially Muslim and Christian sailors who were setting off for or coming back from Black Sea were visiting him and asking his prayers.
Sailors who believed that Yahya Efendi was spiritual guard of Beşiktaş, and Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi was the guard of Üsküdar, and Yuşa was guard of Beykoz would stop their ships at those three places and pray for these three men.
Shepherd Balaban
One day, a shepherd named Balaban lost his sheep. Although he looked for them for a long time, he could not find them. And exhausted he came to Yahya Efendi Lodge. Sheikh Yahya Efendi, who saw how much the man was exhausted, ordered his disciples to serve him. And the disciples brought him bread, butter, and honey. Sheikh complimented to the shepherd saying:
– Here it is fresh butter, fresh honey, fresh bread,
– If you wish, dip your bread into butter, or if you wish, dip it into honey.
The shepherd, who was touched by the compliments of the Sheikh, donated all his sheep to the lodge as gift. (Associate Prof. Mekmet AKKUŞ, Sahabeden Günümüze Allah Dostları, V. 8, p. 130-31)
The Ring which dropped into the Sea
The following incident which happened between Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and Yahya Efendi clearly shows how close they were.
One day, when Kanuni was on a trip around Bosporus, he stopped the rowboat at a place close to Yahya Efendi Lodge. Then he invited the Sheikh, but the sheikh did not come to the rowboat alone and came with a guy who had a bright face.
The Sultan and the sheikh started to have a nice conversation while they were continuing the trip. But the man was not joining the conversation and was constantly looking at Sultan’s precious ring. Kanuni realized that, and gave the ring to the man. But the man immediately threw the ring into the sea. Although Sultan was resented, he did not tell anything because of his respect to Sheikh Yahya Efendi.
When their trip has ended and they berthed to the coast, this person bended to the ground, took a handful water from the sea and showed his hands to Kanuni, who was amazedly looking at him. When Kanuni saw the ring in the hands of him, which was thrown into the sea not so long ago; he unwillingly took the ring. Sultan was about to say something but this bright faced person quickly left them alone and then disappeared. Sultan got confused. Seeing the wonder in Sultan’s face, Yahya Efendi, smiled and explained;
– My Sultan! That man was Khidr, whom you had desired to see for a long time! (Osman Nuri TOPBAŞ, Abide Şahsiyetleri ve Müesseseleriyle Osmanlı, p. 177-178)
Source: Harun Kırkıl, Read About and Travel Around ISTANBUL, Erkam Publications