Hilye is the general term for works dedicated to the physical appearance, morality, personality, beautiful qualities, and description of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of other prophets, the four caliphs, Hasan and Hussain, and certain founders of the Sufi orders. Although primarily written in poetic form, some versions involved a mix of prose and poetry or were presented graphically in the form of panels. Hilye first appeared as early as the 15th century, continued to develop over time, and have endured to the beginning of the 21st century. It is a genre unique to Turkish literature. The important factors in the emergence and spread of this genre can be identified as follows: The great passion for the Prophet Muhammad; the belief that those who read and memorize his hilye will gain great rewards in this world and in the hereafter, will see him in their dreams, and will be protected from many disasters; the desire to be worthy of the Prophet's intercession; the desire to be remembered by leaving behind a text; the influence of Mehmet Hâkânî's achievement on later writers of hilye; and the fact that Islam does not allow the Prophet to be portrayed by drawing or painting. In this paper, the poetic hilyes will be discussed based on the 43 examples of the form that have been identified thus far. The reasons for the emergence and writing of hilye for the Prophet will be emphasized, the development of the genre over the centuries will be revealed, and some known and frequently repeated mistakes in the genre will be discussed. Certain new texts not mentioned in the existing scholarship on hilye, and some similar poems, will also be considered. © 2021 Istanbul Universitesi. All Rights Reserved.