Saints and Tombs of Aksaray

Pir Ali Aksarayi

One of the great spiritual poles of the Bayramî-Melâmî path, succeeding Ömer Dede Sikkînî and Bünyâmin Ayâşî to the rank of qutbiyya; popularly known as 'Sultan Pir Ali.' Per his tomb inscription his real name was Bahâeddin Ali. He died on 26 Şaban 945/16 January 1539 in Kayseri and was buried, per his will, in the Taşpazar quarter of Aksaray. (Sources: TDV 'Pîr Ali Aksarâyî'; TEİS; Aksaray Directorate)

Sheikh Hamza Baba

A sheikh of the Bayramî order; Evliya Çelebi records that he is buried in the Ervah Cemetery of Aksaray near the tomb of Şeyh Hamîdüddin (Somuncu Baba). His three-domed tomb with arched ornament and an adjoining cüzhâne reflects old stone craftsmanship. (Sources: Evliya Çelebi Seyahatnâme; Evliyalar.net)

Yusuf Hakiki Baba

A Sufi poet, son of Somuncu Baba (Shaykh Hamid-i Veli). Known for works such as his Divan and Muhabbet-name, he is regarded as a pioneer of the Bayrami order in Aksaray. He died around 1488 and is buried in his tomb in the Şeyh Hamid neighborhood of Aksaray.

Jamal al-Din al-Aqsarayi

A great scholar (real name Mehmed) who authored works in exegesis, hadith, fiqh, literature and medicine. He taught for years at the Zinciriye (Zincirli) Madrasa in Aksaray; Molla Fenari, the first Ottoman Shaykh al-Islam, was among his students. He died in his hometown Aksaray and was buried at his lodge in the Ervah cemetery.

Somuncu Baba (Shaykh Hamid-i Veli)

(q.s.)

A great Sufi master whose real name was Hamid b. Musa, nicknamed 'Somuncu Baba' (the bread-seller) for distributing bread. Renowned for his Quranic exegesis at the opening of the Bursa Grand Mosque, he spent his final years in Aksaray and died there in 1412. His funeral prayer was led by his disciple Haci Bayram-i Veli. (Note: although some later traditions claim his grave is in Darende, the TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam regards that claim as unverified and affirms Aksaray as the place of death and burial.)