SELIMIYE MOSQUE | The Magnificent Mosque by Mimar Sinan   

The Selimiye Mosque is located in the town of Faith city of Edirne. The mosque was specially made by Sultan Selim II with the help of Architect Mimar Sinan. The mosque is considered as a masterpiece and the highest achievement of Mimar Sinan in Islamic architecture. This majestic mosque stands at the heart of a Kulliye: this is a multiplex of a hospital, library, and school around a mosque. The Kulliye comprises of a medrese an Islamic academy that teaches both Islamic and Scientific lessons, an Al-Hadith School, a row of shops and the timekeeper’s quarter. Sinan make used of an octagonal supporting system for this mosque that is built through eight pillars cut into a square shell of walls.

Mimar Sinan is considered as the greatest of all the Ottoman architects. It was built during the peak of the Ottoman Empire’s military and cultural power. There are many additions around the mosque which includes libraries, schools, hospitals, markets, soup kitchens for the poor and cemetery. In the outer courtyard is where the mosque is located that encircles the complex. There is a designated area for the late incoming worshippers encircled by 18 columns and 22 domes. The 20 windows that surround the courtyard are covered with glazed tile panels. The porch of the courtyard is festooned with floral designs. In the center of the courtyard, you will find a pond for ablutions and it is arched with eight marble pillars. The mosque is square in shape and even though the overall design is very simple it is still exceptional.

On the enclosed cemetery located on the Qibla lateral to the mosque confine the remains of Yavuz Sultan Selim. He is the successor of the magnificent Sultan Sulayman who died at a very young age. The window shutters, doors and wooden banister of Yavuz Sultan Selim mausoleum are work of art from a mother of pearl.

The other structure that remain today other than the mosque and mausoleum is the primary school which is located on the outer side of the courtyard. Though the original decoration is already restored it still gives the picture of Sinan’s artful attractive design. The most noticeable element within the mosque is the respondent’s platform at the center of the prayer hall. It looks like a wooden piece terrace lifted by columns. And at the north-western corner, there is a colossal truncated pillar that is placed to cover the staircase that leads to the podium. This abridged pillar gives a module to the extraordinary scaling of the mosque.

This masterpiece of Mimar Sinan is a real synthesis of the building traditions that prosper in Anatolia in the world of architecture. Selimiye Mosque elucidates Anatolian inheritance that is unique in the world. Its design still keeps hold of its power to raise a sense of inspiration. Though the exterior of the Selimiye Mosque shows extravagance, its interiors is plain and simple which only reveals the hidden key of Ottoman architectural philosophy and that is enormous exteriors pronouncing its wealth and power of the Empire of the Ottomans and the enduring excellence of its sultans should be associated with pure inner spaces that move the faithful into the direct unity with God.