A Khalwatī Tekke in the Ottomans: the Ümmî Sinân Dergâh

The Tekkes have contributed to the preservation of socio-cultural diversity and served to improve universal values such as tolerance and brotherhood throughout their history. It is well-known that the Ottoman State in general was once home to these values, and its capital city Istanbul in particular hosted countless tekkes belonging to various Sufi orders. The Ümmî Sinân Dergâh in İstanbul is one of such tekkes, which has survived since the 16th century. The dergâh, named after Ümmî Sinân, the founder of the Sināniyye branch of the Khalwatī order, served as a prominent place of the Khalwatī order in the Ottoman period. This study offers a brief historical development of the dergâh, and provides information regarding the colorful personality of Ümmî Sinân, his successors, and the physical condition of the dergâh.