Istanbul’s enchanting blue mosque
One of the most captivating tourist sites in Istanbul is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque which was built between 1609-1617. The mosque referred to as the blue mosque by western tourists because of its famous blue tiles that adorn the interior walls of the mosque is highly revered worldwide.
This reporter recently visited the mosque during a trip sponsored by the Turkish Airlines and discovered that the mosque has become not only tourists delight but centre of attraction for different races across the globe. It could be described as a “global centre.”
Inside the mosque and its surroundings are people from all parts of the world, speaking different languages, with the common purpose of being living witnesses to one of the greatest sites in the world.
Before anyone is allowed into the mosque, he/she would be asked to take off his/her shoes and wear polythene bag instead. Visitors are expected to be silent, while women are to be modestly dressed, covering their hairs.
Our tour guide, a young Turkish lady, explained to us that the mosque is open to everybody except during prayer hours. She said that everyone is expected to respect all the laid down rules guiding the entering of a mosque in Islam always.
As a sought after site, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on November 30 2006 during his visit to Turkey. It marks as only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship. Having removed his shoes, the Pope paused for two minutes, eyes closed in silent meditation, standing side by side with Mustafa Çağrıcı, the Mufti of Istanbul, and Emrullah Hatipoğlu, the Imam of the Blue Mosque.
The pope “thanked divine Providence for this” and said, “May all believers identify themselves with the One God and bear witness to true brotherhood.” The pontiff noted that Turkey “will be a bridge of friendship and collaboration between East and West”, and he thanked the Turkish people “for the cordiality and sympathy” they showed him throughout his stay, saying, “he felt loved and understood.”
History has it that the construction of the mosque took about seven years by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga upon the order of Sultan Ahmed I, who ascended to throne at the age of 14 as the 14th Sultan of Ottomans. He was only 19 years old when he commissioned to building of this great mosque the Sedefkar Mehmet Aga. He showed his dedication to the construction by personally working as a labourer. He ruled the Land of Ottomans, which included three continents for 14 years, and he passed away when he was 33 years old.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a masterpiece built with the understanding of the Great Architect Sinan in the 17th Century. Architect Mehmed Aga, after he was admitted to the sedefkarlik (inlaying of mother-of-pearl) and architecture department of the palace in 15691570, he found himself in a new world and he worked as an apprentice and thereafter, a master -builder under the supervision of great Architect Sinan for just 21 years. Having become the chief Architect, his first work was the reparation of the Kabah which is named as “The House of Allah” in the Holy Quran by Allah Himself and installation of its famous Golden Gutters.
When Ottoman Turks built a mosque, they did not limit it only to a place of worship but rather a` kulliye’ or` jami’, a large complex of buildings. Therefore, the Sultanah met mosque a hospital, a madrasah (a higher educational institution), an imaret (a soup kitchen), a primary school, a market (bazaar), and a tomb for the members of the royal family. There was also a room for an astronomer (called ‘Muvakithane’` time house`) where he made calculations of the times of prayer and other important occasions in the Muslim calendar.
Today, most of these buildings are used for different purposes and the Ottoman primary school (Sibyan Mektebi), in addition to the main centre inside the mosque in which visitors have a chance to go in and get information about the mosque and Islam, by meeting the Imam directly.
Interestingly, even though the mosque has always been known as the blue mosque by most westerners, it has never been so-called by the Turks. In those hand-made tiles, along blue colour also white, green and other colour which were used. However, the dominant colour at the entrance of the mosque is obviously blue. The floral patterns represent earthly spring time as well as Gardens of Paradise. The beautiful decoration inside the prayer hall and the abundant light from the windows give a feeling of serenity.
It is covered with carpet since the ritual prayer includes the act of prostration (sajdah), putting one`s forehead and nose on the ground.
That is why Muslims take off their shoes before entering the mosque so that the space they pray on is also clean.
The greatest Arabic calligraphic examples on the interior walls of the Sultanamet mosque are produced by the famous calligrapher of the time, Qasim Ghubari. They are mostly Quranic verses and prayers as well as some attributes of Allah in Arabic language.
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp; the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly (white) star lit from ( the oil of) a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is knowing of all things.’’ (Quran 24:35)
Inside the mosque there are four
very large pillars with a diameter of 5 meters. These are given the name `fil paye` in Turkish which means `elephant feet’ due to the resemblance to the sturdy feet of a huge elephant. On top of each pillar there is a quotation from the Quran written on a blue background with golden letters. These each represent a spiritual pillar of faith in Islam. One of the quotations which is on top of the left rare column reads: “And when My servants ask you about Meindeed I am near. I respond to the prayer of the supplicant when they call upon Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) and belief in Me that they may be rightly guided.’’ (Quran 2: 186)
“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.’’ Quran 2:277. Main features of the mosque There are certain features (mihrab, minber, kursi etc) that one can find in almost all mosques. These parts are used by the prayer leader and his assistants mostly in congregational prayer services. They can have different designs, shape, height, and building material from one another depending on the local culture of that particular country. There is no special type of requirement in terms of architecture of mosque that Islam imposes on its followers.
Some of these objects aren’t in their places nowadays, however Sultan Ahmed mosque doesn’t lose much of its magnificence. This building presents the most beautiful examples of many classical Ottoman art disciplines from architecture to stone works, from China tile to hand-works, from calligraphy to timber embroidery and mine arts.
Mihrab (Niche): It looks like a cavity in the marble wall and the structure reflects the voice of the imam (pray leader) to the people praying behind. The direction of the mihrab is the Kabah in Mecca which is the reference point for all Muslims around the world during ritual prayers.
On top of the mihrab there are two verses from the Quran which mention the names of some holy people in relation to a special praying place (mihrab).
On top: whenever Zachariah entered the Mihrab he found provision (food) with her (Mary). Quran 3:37.
Second one: so the angels called him while he was standing in prayer in the Mihrab, (“Indeed, Allah gives you good tidings of john…) Quran 3:39.
Minber (pulpit): It looks like a staircase however, it`s used as a raised platform to deliver a sermon on congregational prayer days. These are every Friday noon time, Feast of Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice. On these three occasions all healthy Muslims are encouraged to attend the congregation. It is mandatory to attend these prayers for men and the women also are allowed to attend but they were given the opportunity not to attend and the numbers reach up to 12,000 inside the main hall together with the court-yard. From this high location the Imam can be seen and heard easily by the worshippers inside. The minber is made from marble and there are eloquent stone carvings on it.
Kursi (the chair): It is used to give a talk/lecture by scholars of religion and usually used when there is a high number of people attending the mosque. For decoration it is covered with mother of pearl.
Muezzin Mahfili (Muazzin`s lodge): After the call to prayer from the minaret finishers, the muezzin comes inside the hall and stands on a platform where he repeats the call to prayer quickly and worshippers form straight lines to pray together. This raised platform allows the muezzin to see the imam and aids his voice to be heard easily.
After the ritual prayer is finished the muezzin says certain words of glorification and praise which are then repeated 33 times by the
On the exterior part of the mosque, the most striking
things are the minarets. They also mark the skyline of Istanbul. Inside the minarets there are stairs leading to the balconies
and originally 16 people made the ‘adhan’, call to prayer simultaneously towards different directions from the
minarets
congregation. Hunkar Mahfil (the royal lodge) Some Muslims rulers in the past were assassinated during prayers and therefore, as a security measure, royal lodges were built with a separate entrance. It allowed the king and leading ministers to pray with the congregation without the fear of assassination.
The dome: In Turkish Islamic architecture the dome is usually considered a representation of the heavens. The shape (hemisphere), the abundant blue colour and space inside this particular mosque some who confirms this opinion. The central stone was called ‘kilit tasi’ ‘locking stone’. This is a huge stone carefully carved and placed so that it pushes all smaller stones to the sides with its size and weight (locking them in a way). On the central stone there is a quotation from the Quran provoking thought again.
“Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them in place after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.’’ Quran 35:41
On the exterior part of the mosque, the most striking things are the minarets. They also mark the skyline of Istanbul. Inside the minarets there are stairs leading to the balconies and originally 16 people made the ‘adhan’, call to prayer simultaneously towards different directions from the minarets.
Today, with the use of current technology, one person stands at the bottom of the minaret and makes the same announcement which was made centuries ago. The ‘muezzin’ emphasizes the unity of God five times a day.
These are on each side of the building. Muslims are required to be physically pure and clean at all times but especially before worship. Therefore they wash commonly used parts of their bodies including the hands, arms up to elbow, faces, and feet. The ablution facilities for Muslim women are in a covered area for privacy.
The main gate of the mosque looks to the side of the ‘Hippodrome’ where the obesliks are: when you approach the main gate you see two Arabic notices to the approaching visitors. The first one on top is called Shahadah (declaration of faith) and means: “I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.”
The second is placed just above the arch and is a quotation from the Quran. This also explains the purpose of the building. it means: “indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times.” Quran 4:103.
Some numbers for the Sultan mosque
6 minarets altogether, 4 of them have 3 balconies and their size is 73m and 2 have 2 balconies and 60m high.
The size of the prayer hall is 53.50 by 49.47(2646m2).
The inner courtyard has about 3o domes seated on 26 separate columns.
The dome is about 43 metres high and is a diameter of 23.5 metres.
Main prayer hall can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at a time. It has 260 windows. Thispieceiswrittenwithexcerpts from www.sultanahmetcami.org