Originally this area was a village beyond the walls of the city of Istanbul but as the city grew it became incorporated into the city.

Its name comes from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the companion and stadard bearer of the Prophet Muhammad. He passed away during the first attempted Muslim conquest of the city and upon his last request was buried there.

His resting place was venerated during Byzantine times but later fell into an unkept state until it was re-discovered by Aq-Shamsuddin the Sheikh of Mehmed the conqueror.

After the conquest of Constantinople a tomb or 'Turbe' was constructed over Abu Ayyub's resting place and a Mosque constructed in his honour.

From that point on the area became something of a 'sacred place' and many Ottoman officials wished to be buried at or near the site of Abu Ayyub's resting place.

The area later developed into a small village were Dervish Tekkes could be found alongside visiters both Turkish and foreign who came from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul to the area to enjoy the cooler air and fine veiw that the area offered.

In republican times the area the area took on a more 'working class' feel as wealthier residents of Istanbul prefered to buy housing on the Asian side of the city or further along the Bosphorus as the Goldern Horn became increasingly more polluted due to the factories that were built along it.

In recent years however, many of the factories have been closed or at least 'cleaned up' and the district is buisy trying to re-create its old image as an area of cafes and fine veiws of the city.