Uzbek Dervish Lodge

"The Uzbek Takya" (Ottoman Turkish: اوزبكلر تكیه‌سی‎‎ (Özbekler Tekyesi); Turkish: Özbekler Tekkesi) — in 1752 this famous takya was built by Naqshbandi Sufi dervishes of the Bukhara order in the Sultontepa neighborhood of Üsküdar, according to the custom left by Ahmed Yassawi. This takya served as a unique center during the Turkish War of Independence (Türk Kurtuluş Savaşı) for sending weapons, fuel and other types of military assistance to Anatolia. Today the issue of converting this takya, which belongs to the General Directorate of Foundations, into a museum is on the agenda. The takya is located in the cemetery area of Münir Ertegün Street in the Sultontepa neighborhood of Üsküdar district.

Ottoman period

In the Ottoman period the takya was considered one of the three main takyas where Muslim pilgrims who had come from Central Asia for the Hajj and first arrived in Istanbul would stay. Its first owner was the Bukhara Sufi Sayid Haji Abdulloh, and its last sheikh was Najmiddin. Unique discussions and gatherings held in this takya were attended by representatives of all social classes of the city. The premises were taken under state protection. The Uzbek takya reached its final state after renovation works during the reign of Sultan Abdulmajid in 1844.

After the 1878 Ottoman–Russian war many people who fled the Rumelia region found shelter here. The takya, like the Mawlawiy tekkes, is open to everyone. It is famous for the Mawlid, dhikr taught on the nights of Qandil and Muharram, Uzbek pilaf, and divine texts recited in Uyghur and Chagatai languages, as well as for masters of the art of ebru.

Role in the Turkish War of Independence

During the years of the "Turkish War of Independence" (Türk Kurtuluş Savaşı) the Uzbek takya became one of the important military centers. It turned into the main meeting place for intellectuals and soldiers who supported the national independence movement. The Uzbek takya continued its secret activities until the end of the war of independence. Among those who passed from this place to Anatolia were prominent figures in Turkish history such as İsmet İnönü, Halide Edip Adıvar, Adnan Adıvar, Yunus Nadi, Mehmet Akif Ersoy. In addition, Shaykh Ata, a member of the "Black‑Eyed Society" (later sent by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s order to meet Enver Pasha), stayed hidden for a short time in the Uzbek takya before later moving to Anatolia. For a short period Usmonxoja Polatkhoyev, who led the Bukhara People's Soviet Republic (BXSR), was buried in the cemetery belonging to the takya.

During the Republic of Turkey period

During the Republic of Turkey period, because of the important role of the Uzbek community in the liberation war, the tavern and religious sites law issued in 1925 was not closed, and it continued to function as a venue for literature and word gatherings. The Uzbek tavern belonging to the Association Directorate remains preserved today as a cultural center.