Suleymaniye Mosque is a mosque built by Mimar Sinan in Istanbul between 1551 and 1558 in the name of Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Suleymaniye Mosque, built by Mimar Sinan between 1551 and 1558 in Istanbul in the name of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, is an iconic mosque.
Considered a masterpiece of Mimar Sinan's apprenticeship period, the Suleymaniye Mosque was constructed as part of the Suleymaniye Complex, which includes a madrasa, library, hospital, bathhouse, soup kitchen, cemetery, and shops.
The Suleymaniye Mosque is one of the most significant examples of Classical Ottoman Architecture. Despite more than a hundred earthquakes occurring in Istanbul since its construction, not a single crack has formed in the mosque’s walls. The mosque is supported by four elephantine columns.
The mosque was designed to create an airflow that cleans the soot from the lamps inside. This airflow ensures that the soot from the oil lamps collects at a single point. The soot gathers in a room above the main entrance and is used in ink production.
In the center of the mosque courtyard, surrounded by 28 arcades, there is a rectangular fountain. On the qibla side of the mosque, there is a cemetery that contains the tombs of Sultan Suleiman and his wife, Hürrem Sultan. The dome of Suleiman the Magnificent’s tomb is adorned with diamonds (gems) placed between metallic plates to create the impression of a starry sky.
The mosque features a simple decorative style. The windows on the mihrab wall are decorated with stained glass. The tiles on either side of the mihrab bear inscriptions of the Conquest Surah, while the center of the mosque’s main dome features the Nur Surah. The calligrapher of the mosque is Hasan Çelebi.
The Suleymaniye Mosque has four minarets. This is because Suleiman was the fourth sultan after the conquest of Istanbul, and the ten balconies on these four minarets signify that he was the tenth Ottoman sultan.
The mosque is part of a complex that includes madrasas, a darüşşifa (hospital), a darülhadis (place for hadith studies), a fountain, a darülkurra (place for Quranic studies), a darüzziyafe (guesthouse), a soup kitchen, a bathhouse, a lodge, a library, and shops. Mimar Sinan’s tomb is a modest small structure located opposite the outer courtyard walls.
The Suleymaniye Complex is the second largest complex after the Fatih Complex among Ottoman complexes. It was constructed on the highest peak in the center of the Istanbul peninsula, overlooking the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara, Topkapi Palace, and the Bosphorus.
The Suleymaniye Mosque has undergone partial restorations since the restoration work of the 1960s. In 2007, the mosque was restored by the foundations, and the restoration was completed in 2010, reopening for worship. During the restoration, all cement-based plaster and joints in the structure were stripped away, and the original ornamental works were uncovered, with conservation measures taken to protect the surfaces. During the stripping process, previously unknown tile panels were revealed and protective measures were implemented. Facade cleaning was carried out, and strengthening works were done on the stone surfaces. The lead covering and infrastructure of the roofs were renewed. The wooden architectural elements were treated, cleaned, repaired, and traditionally polished. The original texture of the outer courtyard walls and doors was restored, and landscaping was completed.
