The Yeni Valide Mosque — Turkey Islamic History

The Yeni Valide Mosque is an Ottoman mosque of the early 18th century, built by Ahmet III in honor of his mother. It is located in the Üsküdar district, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Semsi Pasa Mosque and Mihrimah Sultan Mosque are nearby.

The complex includes a hospice, school, tombs, a clock tower and offices. The architecture is typical of the classical Ottoman period.

FEED THE POOR

Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.

“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)

READ MORE: Turkey’s Giant Mosque To Welcome Worshippers In Ramadan 2018

The mosque is most easily identified by the green tomb, similar to the sultan’s birdcage (see above), whose mesh roof was designed to keep out birds, allowing the rain to water the garden below.

Exterior

The complex is entered through a large gate, over which a school of Quran was built. This leads to a spacious courtyard with an ablution fountain (sadirvan). The grates of his tank are highly forged, their complex geometric pattern is reflected in the stone carving above them.

The mosque is made in the classical style, but on the tomb of Sultan Valide, the neighboring cathedral (the kiosk from which drinks were served), there are baroque decorations.

Interior

The interior decoration is dominated by repetitive floral patterns and motifs. Calligraphy is the work of Hezarfen Mehmet Efendi.

Source: The rough guide to Istanbul, Eyewitness Travel – Istanbul, Wikipedia