Suleymaniye Mosque; It was built by Mimar Sinan by Suleiman the Magnificent at a time when the Ottoman Empire was at its peak. This mosque, which Mimar Sinan describes as a journeyman’s work, is located in the Süleymaniye district of Istanbul’s Fatih district. Considered one of the most important works of classical Ottoman architecture, the mosque is among the works that impress with its splendor and story. Since the construction of the mosque, there have been more than a hundred earthquakes in Istanbul, but there has not been even the slightest crack in its walls. From the construction of the mosque to the treasury in its minaret, there are many stories about it that have survived to the present day.
Built by Suleiman the Magnificent to show the power and splendor of the empire, the mosque was built between 1551 and 1558. According to what is told, where and how the mosque will be built, our Prophet Hz. Said by Muhammad (saas). There is a hidden treasure inside the minaret of the mosque, which took 7 years to build. It contains ostrich eggs that were hanged for a rather surprising reason. The hand-drawn writings and ornaments on the walls are written with ink created by distilling the soot from the lamps of the mosque. The mosque, which was unearthed hundreds of years ago with great knowledge and art, contains incredible details.
The Construction Story of the Süleymaniye Mosque
According to the narrations, the Süleymaniye Mosque; Hagia SophiaIt is made to access or even pass it. The reason for this is based on a much older historical event. In 957 BC, St. Prophet Solomon; He built a huge temple in Jerusalem. It is believed that only one wall remains from this structure, known as the Temple of Solomon. But for hundreds of years, no world leader has created such a structure. For this reason, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian wanted to build a structure that would leave the fame of the Temple of Solomon behind. He had Hagia Sophia built between 532 and 537 AD. After the construction of Hagia Sophia, Justinian, Hz. Referring to the Prophet Solomon, he said, “O Solomon, I have surpassed you”.
Thousands of years after the construction of Hagia Sophia Suleiman The Magnificentdecided to build a mosque that would overshadow Justinian’s victory. At the same time, he wanted to eliminate the understanding that the Catholic churches said in their sermons that the Ottoman Empire was a backward country in aesthetics, science and technique. Suleiman the Magnificent saw the Prophet in a dream when he was thinking about where and how the mosque should be. The Prophet gave information about the place where the mosque will be built and where the mihrab and pulpit should be located.
Suleiman the Magnificent goes to the place where the mosque will be built right after the dream and calls Mimar Sinan. He says to Mimar Sinan, I want to build a mosque at the point where we are. Architect Sinan, on the other hand, points to the points described by the Prophet by saying that his mihrab should be here and his pulpit should be there. Surprised by this, Suleiman the Magnificent asks how did you know about this event. Sinan the Architect answers with an excited smile on his face, “I was right behind you when my sultan was talking to our prophet in your dream last night. I heard everything,” he says.
Treasure Covered Minaret of Süleymaniye Mosque
The foundations of the Süleymaniye Mosque were laid with the laying of the first stone by Şeyhülislam Ebussuud Efendi. The construction of the mosque, which took 7 years, took 3 years, even the basic excavation works. After digging the foundation, Mimar Sinan waited for the ground to tighten and settle into place. Mimar Sinan, who thinks everything down to the smallest detail with his magnificent architectural intelligence, wanted to build a structure that will stand for centuries. This wait of Architect Sinan revealed the rumors that he slowed down the construction of the mosque and that the Ottomans did not even have enough income to complete the mosque.
Shah Tahmasp of Iran upon the spread of rumors; On a condescending note, he sends Suleiman the Magnificent a treasure of diamonds and rubies. In the note, it is written to Suleiman the Magnificent that if he could not afford to complete the mosque, he could sell these treasures and use them. Enraged by this situation, Kanuni takes the treasure to Mimar Sinan. Giving the treasures to the architect; He says that the Shah of Iran wants to contribute to the mortar of the mosque. Understanding the situation, Mimar Sinan decides to use the jewels in the mortar of the mosque to fulfill the wish of the Iranian shah, who despises them.
In front of everyone, he crushes all the diamonds, emeralds and precious stones into powder and mixes them into the construction mortar. That shining mortar was used in the construction of one of the minarets of the Süleymaniye Mosque. That’s why this minaret was named “Cevahir minaret”, which means precious stones such as diamonds and diamonds.
Fine Accounts Made in the Süleymaniye Mosque
Some of the people who could not draw the great intelligence of Mimar Sinan, who carefully calculated every detail, complained to the architect, Suleiman the Magnificent. to Kanuni; They said that instead of finishing the mosque, the architect deals with other works and enjoys the mosque. Angered by the prolongation of the construction of the mosque, the sultan immediately went to the mosque. When he enters the mosque, Mimar Sinan sits in the middle of the mosque and smokes a hookah. Enraged by the situation, Kanuni scoffs at what a disgrace this is. But the only thing found in Mimar Sinan’s hookah is water. The architect is trying to measure the acoustics of the mosque by listening to the sound of the hookah. In this way, he makes calculations to ensure that the voice of the imam spreads to the entire mosque at the same rate.
Since there was no electricity at that time, 275 oil lamps were lit in the mosque to illuminate. In order for the soot from these lamps not to damage the mosque, a business room was built with very fine calculations, where soot could be collected. The soot coming out of the oil lamps moves in the opposite direction of the mihrab with the current inside the mosque and is drawn into the soot room through the 4 small windows that open outwards. The best quality ink of the period was obtained from these soot accumulated in the soot room, and it was used in the decorations and writings in the mosque.
One of the most striking details of the mosque is the hundreds of ostrich eggs among the chandeliers inside. These eggs, brought from Africa by Mimar Sinan, keep the mosque away from creatures such as spiders and scorpions. The architect, who carried out extensive research, learned that these eggs repel insects and used them in the entire mosque.
Every corner, every wall of the mosque, from whatever angle it is measured, reveals the word of Allah and its multiples numerically according to the abjat calculation. When looking at some lengths and angles such as the height of the minaret and the diameter of the dome, it shows numbers such as “Pi” or 23, which is the angle of inclination of the earth’s axis. The four minarets of the mosque; It symbolizes that Suleiman the Magnificent was the 4th sultan after the conquest of Istanbul. The 10 Honors on the minarets show that Kanuni was the 10th sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
There are 4 granite columns in the mosque, each weighing 50 tons on average. These columns are from Alexandria, baalbek, It was taken from Kıztaşı and Saray-ı Amire in Istanbul and brought to the Süleymaniye Mosque. These 4 columns; 4 caliphs, namely Hz. Abu Bakr, Mr. Omar, Mr. Osman and Hz. Dedicated to Ali. According to the calculations of Mimar Sinan, 32 windows were built in the main dome of the mosque to provide the most healthy lighting. The mosque garden, which has an area of approximately 6 thousand square meters, has 11 gates. Famous as Süleymaniye Madrasahs around the garden; Seven madrasas, five of which are at high school level, one faculty and one specialization department, were established.
