It was commissioned in 1347 by Alaaddin Eratna, the founder of the Eratna State, for his son Sheikh Hasan Bey. Inside the mausoleum is a sarcophagus made of black marble. The sarcophagus measures 0.68 x 2.12 meters. The sarcophagus, which has beveled edges in a herringbone pattern, bears verses 22–26 of the Mutaffifîn Sura from the Holy Qur’an, beginning with: “Allah, the Exalted, said: ‘Indeed, the righteous are in bliss, gazing upon the thrones.’”
The meaning of these verses is: “Allah, the Exalted, said: Indeed, the righteous are in bliss, reclining on thrones. You will see the joy of these blessings on their faces. They are given to drink from a pure, sealed (untouched) beverage. Its aftertaste is like musk (leaving a scent of musk in the mouth). Let those who strive, strive for this.”
The other inscription on the sarcophagus reads as follows:
May the deceased rest in peace; Sheikh Hasan Bag, the rose of the country’s garden, may Allah illuminate his grave, son of His Highness the Great Sultan, the Magnificent Shahanshah, Ruler of the Nations, the Shadow of God in the World, the Sword of the World and of the Faith, Sultan Eratna—may God grant him a peaceful realm. In the month of Ramadan, in the year seven hundred forty-seven (1347).”
The meaning is: “Sheikh Hasan Bey, who was a rose petal in the kingdom’s garden of paradise, who had been graced by Allah’s mercy and forgiven, has passed away. May Allah fill his grave with light.” (Sheikh Hasan was the son of Alâeddin Eretna, the founder of the Eretna State, who died at a young age. He (Sheikh Hasan) is the son of Sultan Eretna—the exalted sultan, the king of kings, the ruler of nations, the shadow of Allah on earth, and the sword of the world and of religion. May Allah make his realm eternal. He passed away in the month of Ramadan of the year 748 (corresponding to December 1347 CE).”
In summary, the inscription states that the late and forgiven Sheikh Hasan Bey was the son of Sultan Eretna, the great sultan, the exalted ruler, and the one known as “the sword of the world and of religion.” The inscription also contains prayer phrases meaning “May Allah illuminate his grave” and “May Allah make his realm everlasting.” According to the inscription, Sheikh Hasan Bey passed away in the month of Ramadan in the year 748 AH / 1347 AD.
The mausoleum has a square plan measuring 9.80 x 9.80 meters and consists of two stories. The main burial chamber, or funeral hall, is accessed through a small door on the north side. There are other graves within Sheikh Hasan Bey’s mausoleum.
The square base of the mausoleum is constructed of marble up to a height of 6 meters.
The wooden roof, which was originally made of masonry in 1894, was converted into a simple conical-domed structure covered with lead during the 1969 restoration, with the roof topped with tiles.
