JERUSALEM IN SÜLEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT'S RULE AND NA‘ÎMÎ'S POETRY

For the first 15 years after the birth of Islam, Jerusalem was regarded as the Qibla, and the city, which later came under the Ottoman Empire, became a holy center for Muslims as well as for Christian and Jewish communities. During the Ottoman period, especially during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent, significant restorations were made to Jerusalem's cultural and religious buildings. In this context, Çeşmecizâde Ni'metullah Çelebi's Fezâ’il-i Kuds, of which only two copies have survived, provides a detailed account of the history of Jerusalem and the renovation works of Kanuni.Using the pseudonym Na'îmî, Nîmetullâh Çelebi's work in masnavi form deals not only with the transformation of the physical structure of Jerusalem, but also with the spiritual and historical significance of the city and its ruler. Thus, the rich past of Jerusalem is revealed as well as the values that the Ottomans added to the city. Kanuni's projects to strengthen the city both defensively and aesthetically made Jerusalem a more livable and strategic center. Na'îmî includes many cultural and religious stories from antiquity to the Islamic period while describing the contributions of Kanuni to the city.Fezâ’il-i Kuds should be considered as an important source for understanding the historical and cultural texture of Jerusalem and the city's place in Islamic history. By showing how literary works can be used in such historical and cultural analyses, this study allows us to evaluate Jerusalem's rich heritage in a broader framework.