There isn’t much information available about Kefçe Dede. His history dates back to the 16th century. The person known as Kefçe Dede is Mehmet Dede. According to legend, Kefçe Mehmet Dede used to distribute food to the poor, ladle by ladle. Over time, the word “kepçe” (ladle) evolved into “kefçe” in the local vernacular.
According to a popular legend, Ahmet Ağa, the Shipyard Administrator and founder of the present-day Ahmediye Mosque, had intended to have a mausoleum built for himself but, following a dream, abandoned this plan and instead had this mausoleum built over the grave of Mehmet Dede, who became famous under the name Kefçe Dede.
The mausoleum is located in front of the mihrab wall of the Ahmediye Mosque. It was built in 1722 over the grave of Kefçe Dede, who passed away in 947 (1540) and was the founder of the first place of worship on the site of the Ahmediye Mosque.
This open mausoleum, consisting of a dome supported by six marble columns, bears the following inscription on Kefçe Dede’s tombstone:
“For the soul of the late Kefçe Dede
, the Benefactor
of Good Deeds. Fatiha
. Year 947.”
Source: Üsküdar Through the Centuries, Mehmet Nermin Haskan – www.evliyalar.net
The transcription of the tombstone’s inscription was completed on July 20, 2026, by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik.
Graveyard of the Ahmediye Mosque: Grave Stone of El Hac İbrahim Hakkı Efendi
O God
, for the soul of the late El-Hajj Ibrahim Hakkı Efendi, the virtuous Imam of the
second battalion of the first
regiment of the Hass-i Nizami, and for the souls of all believers,-Hajj
Ibrahim Hakkı Efendi
, may his soul rest
in peace, and for the souls of all believers
, recite al-Fatiha
. Year 1305
, on the day following ……..
