This mosque looks ordinary from the outside, but your jaw will drop as soon as you step inside. The most incredible mosque in the world is the Blue Mosque. Istanbul

The old Moscow Cathedral Mosque on Mira Avenue was remembered by city residents for its incredible popularity on the days of the main Muslim celebrations - Kurban Bayram and Eid al-Adha. On these days, the surrounding neighborhoods were blocked off and filled with thousands of worshipers.

And this is not surprising. The former building of the temple was significantly smaller in size than the current one. Today, the Moscow Cathedral Mosque is one of the most interesting architectural objects in the capital. Its tall minarets are visible far beyond Olympic Avenue.

More than a hundred years ago, there was a mosque on the site of the current luxurious building. The Moscow Cathedral Church was erected in 1904. The building will be built according to the design of the Moscow architect Nikolai Zhukov, mainly at the expense of the famous philanthropist, merchant Salikh Erzin. This mosque became the second Muslim temple in the capital, but after the mosque in Zamoskvorechye was closed (in 1937), the address Vypolzov Lane, building 7, became a symbol of Soviet Islam.

The temple received a safe conduct from Stalin himself, which was a telegram of gratitude for helping the front during the Second World War. In addition, the visits of famous leaders of Muslim states in the post-war years to Vypolzov Lane were reliably protected religious life temple.

Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sukarno, Muammar Gaddafi and other famous politicians who sought the favor of the leadership of the Soviet Union, during their visits to the capital, visited not only the Kremlin, but also stopped at some advanced enterprise, and without fail a mosque.

Visits of distinguished guests to the mosque were quite difficult and often did not go according to script. For example, in 1981, the leader of the Libyan Jamahiriya, who visited the mosque, did not follow diplomatic protocol. Gaddafi asked the imams why there were no young people in the temple in the prayer hall, where you can buy religious literature in Moscow, and offered financial assistance to the mosque.

The Iranians left portraits of Ayatollah Khomeini on the window sills of the mosque and invited the imam of the Moscow mosque A. Mustafin to come to Tehran, although neither the Soviet Union in general nor the Muslim religious leaders in particular had yet decided on their attitude towards the Islamic Revolution that had taken place.

Nevertheless, it was thanks to the international status of the mosque that it was preserved. This allowed open prayers to be held in the Soviet capital. The imams of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque became frequent guests at government receptions.

Imams of the mosque

Among the imams who served in different years in the mosque, the following should be highlighted: Bedretdin Alimov (the first imam), Safu Alimovov, Abdulvadud Fattakhetdinov, Ismail Mushtaria, Akhmetzyan Mustafin Rizautdin Basyrov, Ravil Gainutdin, Raisa Bilyalov, Ildar Alyautdinov.

Today there are six imams serving in the temple. Ildar Alyautdinov is the chief imam of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. He is assisted by Mustafa Kütyukçü, Rais Bilyalov, Anas Sadretdinov, Islam Zaripov and Vais Bilyaletdinov, the oldest imam (30 years of service). IN Soviet times it was the only mosque in the city that did not stop working and regularly held services.

Construction of a new temple

By the end of the twentieth century, the mosque was increasingly being called dilapidated and in need of renovation or reconstruction. Under this pretext, they tried to demolish the building on the eve of the 1980 Olympics; it was saved only by the intervention of the Muslim community in Moscow and the ambassadors of some Arab countries.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the mosque received the status of a monument cultural heritage, but not for long. Soon the status was canceled, recognizing the building as dilapidated and subject to demolition. Moreover, by this time the mosque could no longer accommodate all the believers even for Friday prayers.

In 2011, the old building was completely dismantled. For several years, prayers were held in temporary premises. Construction was accompanied by numerous legal proceedings between the authors of the project, Alexey Kolenteev and Ilyas Tazhiev, with the customer, represented by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims. Nevertheless, in 2005 it was decided to carry out large-scale reconstruction. And in 2011, construction began on a new mosque building designed by Alexei Kolenteev and Ilyas Tazhiev.

Moscow Cathedral Mosque: opening

On September 23, 2015, a long-awaited event for the entire Muslim world of Russia took place. The magnificent Moscow Cathedral Mosque opened its doors. The address of the temple is Vypolzov Lane, building 7. This holiday brought together numerous guests. President Putin, political figures, famous representatives of science and culture took part in the solemn and very memorable ceremony. It should be noted that famous and honored guests are not uncommon in the mosque - both before and after reconstruction it remains the center of Islam in Russia, many politicians and cultural representatives from all over the world visit it.

Construction cost

The Council of Muftis reported that the Moscow Cathedral Mosque was built at a cost of $170 million. This huge amount includes donations from ordinary believers, as well as funds from large entrepreneurs. A book was published in their honor, all benefactors are listed by name.

The current mosque can hardly be called a reconstructed building. After all, only tiny fragments of walls remained from the old building.

Architecture

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque occupies a huge area - 18,900 square meters (before reconstruction it was 964 sq. m). To strengthen the structure, 131 piles were driven into its base, since there is a metro line nearby and the underground Neglinka River carries its waters.

IN architectural complex The new mosque contains several cultural and historical references. For example, the main minarets, whose height is more than 70 meters, resemble in their shape the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin in the capital and the leaning Syuyumbike Tower of the Kazan Kremlin. This is no coincidence. The architects resorted to this solution as a symbol of unity and friendship between the Tatar and Russian peoples.

The huge 46-meter dome of the mosque, covered with twelve tons of gold leaf, is surprisingly harmoniously combined with the overall appearance of the “golden-domed” Moscow. The architects also took into account the original appearance of the mosque. Fragments of the old walls were reassembled, and they successfully fit into the new interior, while maintaining their original appearance. The top of one minaret is crowned with a crescent moon, which at one time adorned the old building.

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque has certain features of the Byzantine style. The magnificent six-story building is crowned with minarets, domes and towers of various sizes. The area of ​​the new building is 20 times larger than the original version. Today, prayer halls for women and men accommodate about ten thousand believers. There are also special rooms for performing the ablution ritual, a large and cozy hall for conferences and organizing meetings.

Leading Muslim imams hold services in the new mosque, and they also perform traditional rituals.

Interior decoration

The inside of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque amazes guests with the luxury and splendor of its decoration. Exquisite patterns on the walls of the temple, thoughtful decorative elements are fully consistent with traditions Muslim architecture. The interior uses classic Islamic colors - green, emerald, white, blue.

The inside of the dome, like the walls and ceiling of the mosque, is decorated with paintings. These are sacred verses from the Koran, which were performed by Turkish masters. The Turkish government donated magnificent front doors and extraordinary carpets to the cathedral mosque ( self made) for halls and luxurious crystal chandeliers.

The mosque is illuminated by more than three hundred and twenty lamps, which are placed on the ceiling and walls. Their main part follows the shape of the temple dome. The main (central) chandelier is a giant lamp. Its height is about eight meters, and this structure weighs one and a half tons. It was created by fifty craftsmen from Turkey over three months.

It should be noted that you do not have to be a Muslim to see the mosque. Here, as in the mosques of Istanbul and others major cities, the doors are open to representatives of different religions. But certain rules must be followed.

Women should cover their hair and their clothing should be formal and closed. Before entering, you should take off your shoes and try not to disturb those praying.

Mosques are not only places of worship for performing religious rituals, but also beautiful, original architectural monuments. The familiar appearance of most of them with round gamby domes, arches and columns appeared as a result of their centuries-old history, having undergone a number of changes. The world's first mosques with flat roofs have survived.

1. Minimum images, maximum decor

The interior decoration of the mosques is devoid of any divine images, there are only lines from the Koran. But the decorative elements amaze with their splendor - in this way the community demonstrates wealth and luxury, the greatness of the rulers. If you raise your head up, you will appear amazing beauty ceilings. They are difficult to describe in words, you just have to see them.

Since the dome symbolizes the firmament above the earth, the creators of mosques try to make them unique, investing in them their skill and respect for those they worship.

2. Combining styles

The Ottoman style absorbed the architectural heritage of Byzantine culture, which was creatively reworked and supplemented with new techniques. In particular, it became customary to erect domes over the main prayer hall. In early traditions, they rose only above the part where the mihrab and qibla were located (niche and wall facing towards Muslim shrine Kaaba in Mecca).

In ancient times, builders and architects showed miracles of ingenuity so that they could build a large hemisphere on the base of a quadrangular building. Several methods have been developed that have been successfully used. In addition, it was necessary to find appropriate material for construction. Depending on the natural features territory it could be stones or bricks, wood with copper or lead coating.

3. Improvement of technology

Further combining elements different cultures led to the emergence of new architectural traditions. For example, the number of domes changed - the huge hemisphere covering the main hall was supplemented by several small ones on different sides. Construction technologies were improved and more modern materials were used.

Until now, the exquisite pattern of the domes and walls makes speech impossible, leaving only a short exclamation in different languages ​​of the world: “Oh, what beauty!”

Grandiose mosques in Muslim countries have been and remain places of worship for followers of Islam and a mandatory point in tourist programs. Their domes are visible from afar. If you are there, do not pass by, do not deprive yourself of the pleasure of enjoying the brilliant creations human hands. And pay attention to the ceilings - you will receive aesthetic pleasure, we assure you.

The floor is covered with magnificent carpets, mainly in red and cherry tones. But the dominant colors in the mosque are blue and blue. These colors dominate the thousands of tiles made in the Iznik ceramic workshops that line the walls of the mosque. In the 16th century, tiles from Iznik masters were exported to almost all countries of the Muslim world. During the construction of the Blue Mosque, all workshops worked only for it, fulfilling the order of the Sultan. Ahmed I even forbade ceramic craftsmen from supplying tiles for other buildings.

In total, more than 200,000 tiles were used to decorate the interior of the Blue Mosque.

The vaults of the mosque and the inner surface of the dome are lined with tiles in light colors - white, yellow, cream, golden. The main motif of the majolica decoration of the Blue Mosque is a floral pattern, as well as sayings from the Koran, written by the hand of a skilled calligrapher. The mihrab of the mosque and the minbar - the pulpit, the pulpit for reading sermons - are made of white marble and covered with the finest carved ornaments. To the left of the mihrab, a framed piece of the sacred stone from the Kaaba is mounted on the wall - a thin marble tile with a beautiful pattern. On both sides of the mihrab there are two huge candlesticks with equally huge candles.

According to the chronicles, previously 200 gold plates were hung on the walls, each of them decorated with 61 diamonds. The names of the prophet, the first caliphs and sayings from the Koran were engraved on these plates. Once upon a time, the mosque also had stained glass windows. Nowadays the windows have ordinary glass, through which streams of light pour into the mosque.

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
In the initial period of the spread of Islam, Byzantine temples were used as mosques. They were not destroyed, but adapted, reoriented towards Mecca and adding a huge courtyard to the main building, where all the worshipers could sit. Until the 8th century, the oldest Umayyad mosque in Damascus served as an example of such “conversion” - former temple John the Baptist (even earlier there was a Roman temple of Jupiter there, the remains of which are visible from outside mosques). However, in the 8th century the temple was completely rebuilt, and in its place a new mosque appeared, the appearance of which is considered a reference today. The mosque still houses one of the shrines of both the Muslim and Christian worlds - the Head of John the Baptist, the prophet Yahya in Islam.

A mosque is not a temple where sacraments are performed during services, but a place for collective prayer, indicating the qibla to believers, that is, the direction to the Kaaba - the main shrine of the Muslim world, a cubic structure in the courtyard of the Forbidden Mosque in Mecca, where the “Black Stone” is kept.

There are neighborhood mosques - for the daily five-time prayer of the residents of the immediate area, as well as cathedral mosques - those in which the entire community gathers for Friday prayers. A special type of citywide mosque - musalla - open area with a single wall where services are held on Eid al-Adha.

Neighborhood mosques are usually small, noticeable among urban buildings only thanks to the minaret. Most often, they do not possess any architectural merits, but perform only a religious function (that’s why I personally call them “household blocks”). Friday mosques are a completely different matter. Huge, comparable to medieval cathedrals, cathedral mosques Istanbul and Isfahan, Marrakesh, Damascus and Delhi were built at the expense of the treasury by the best craftsmen. Architecture - traditional way demonstrations of the power of government, and Friday mosques showed the city and the world the power of the state, although, of course, they gathered believers for prayer and preaching. It was in such mosques that the Sultan and his court performed prayers. Such mosques always have several minarets (block mosques have only one), since the more minarets and the higher they are, the farther the call to prayer travels. And, of course, most of these mosques today are also museums. These are historical monuments, examples of architectural styles: Ottoman, Seljuk, Persian, Mughal, etc.

Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul
One of the most common types of mosque in the world is Ottoman. The architectural pinnacle of this style is the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, built by the great architect Ottoman Empire Sinan in the first half of the 16th century by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (hence the name). Ottoman architects inherited the design principle of the Byzantine temple, primarily the Hagia Sophia of Constantinople. Just like hers (1) Suleymaniye dome rests on massive supports (2) pillars using (3) "sails". The weight of the dome is evenly “damped” through the side (4) half dome. The mosque is decorated with famous tiles from Iznik, as well as numerous lamps and galleries. The courtyard of the mosque along the perimeter is framed by a covered (5) gallery decorated (6) small domes. In the center of the courtyard is located (7) a fountain for ritual ablutions, which today plays a decorative role (ablutions take place under the external gallery). At the corners of the courtyard, Sinan placed four (8) minaret - Suleiman was the fourth ruler of the empire after moving the capital to Istanbul. Ten (9) balconies from which the call to prayer was sounded, also in honor of Suleiman, the tenth Sultan of the Ottoman dynasty. Behind (10) The tombs of the Sultan and his wife Roksolana stand along the wall of the qibla (qibla - direction to the Kaaba).

You can go to the Friday mosque at any time of the day. To avoid finding yourself in an uncomfortable situation, adhere to basic rules that are universal for any place associated with a cult. Be restrained and calm. Behave as the locals behave when they are not praying. If they are sitting, or lying, or sleeping, then you can calmly sit on the carpet yourself and take a nap against the wall. The only thing that really irritates believers is the lack of respect for their religion from outsiders.

Do not forget that when entering the mosque, you must, first of all, have a decent appearance - no shorts or T-shirts. And secondly, you will have to leave your shoes at the entrance. On the one hand, this demonstrates respect for the house of Allah, on the other hand, this custom, like many others, is associated with hygiene: during prayer, believers repeatedly touch the floor with their palms and forehead. And for those who are disdainful of walking barefoot (for example, in Indian mosques the floor is sometimes bare and quite dirty), it is better to stock up on socks. You can carry shoes in your hands, but it’s easier to throw your shoes at the entrance, like everyone else does - stealing from a mosque is impossible. Finally, women will have to cover their heads and arms. In historical mosques major cities headscarves are offered at the entrance, and at the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, for example, I was surprised to find that a woman can rent a robe with a hood. Which generally solves the problem of any “non-format” clothing.

Forbidden Mosque in Mecca
The main mosque of the Muslim world is structured completely differently. Since its first task is to accommodate hundreds of thousands of pilgrims during the Hajj to the main shrine of Islam, the Kaaba, the mosque is a huge courtyard surrounded by a multi-tiered (1) gallery with (2) minarets in the corners. In the center of the courtyard is located (3) The Kaaba is a sanctuary towards which Muslims all over the world turn during prayer. This is a cubic structure with a height of 15 meters and a base of 10 by 12 meters. Built into the eastern corner of the Kaaba (“black corner”) (4) a black stone set in a silver frame. The stone is of meteorite origin; it was the object of an ancient Semitic cult long before the rise of Islam. During the youth of the Prophet Muhammad, at this place there was an idol of Hubal, the patron deity of Mecca, around which were located 360 idols of deities revered in Arabia. The importance of the Kaaba for Islam increased sharply when it was declared a holy place, turning to which Muslims are obliged to pray (until 622, the direction of the qibla was towards Jerusalem, where, according to legend, the ascension of the prophet took place). In Muslim religious mythology, the “black stone” is the “white yacht” from paradise, given to Adam by Allah when he, thrown to earth, reached Mecca. He became black later because of human sins and vices. Next to the “black stone” is (5) maqam Ibrahim (place of Ibrahim) - a stone from paradise, standing on which the prophet Ibrahim built the Kaaba and which preserved the imprint of his feet. Near Ibrahim's maqam, imams lead the prayers of the faithful. To the right of it behind the semicircular wall is (6) Al-Hijr is the place where the prophet Ibrahim left his wife Hajar and son Ismail, bringing them to Mecca, and where he ordered Hajar to build a house. This is a special place where pilgrims do not go during their tour of the Kaaba: it is believed that under the prophet Ibrahim it was part of the Kaaba and, according to legend, his wife and son are buried there.

Inside the mosque, if there is no prayer, men, women and children can walk anywhere: no “ sacred places" And " protected areas" No. However, it is, of course, better to turn off your mobile phone and not talk loudly, although children who often frolic on the mosque carpets scream quite naturally, as they should. And, of course, it is better for men not to meddle in the female half. As a rule, it is fenced off with wooden screens, but even if not, you should take a closer look where local men do not go.

A non-believer who enters the mosque before the prayer begins does not have to leave when the believers begin to pray. If he does not interfere with those praying in any way, no one will kick him out. There is nothing wrong with entering the mosque after the prayer has begun. Many believers themselves come running from their shops and offices late, without being embarrassed at all.

Upon entering the mosque, you should choose a quiet corner with good review, sit against the wall and look at the interior and people from the floor. Most of the faithful wait for prayer or stay after it to socialize and relax. This is one of the main pleasures in a hot Muslim city: the coolness of huge mosques, the quiet hum of voices, children running around. The legs are resting, and so are the eyes, tired from the sun.

1. Minbar - pulpit, with which the imam reads the Friday sermon. It is always located to the right of the mihrab. It has the shape of a staircase, decorated with a pointed dome on top. In Friday mosques, the minbar is often covered with elaborate carvings of the type that is common in the country where the mosque is located. According to tradition, the imam occupies the penultimate step of the stairs from the top, since the Prophet Muhammad himself is invisibly present on the top step.
2. Mihrab - niche in the wall of the mosque, indicating the direction of the Kaaba. Muslims face the mihrab during prayer. The mihrab is often decorated around the perimeter with tiles, carvings and inscriptions from the Koran and is flanked by two semi-columns. In large mosques, several mihrabs are built so that one of them is always in sight of the person praying. Mihrabs are also set up in the courtyard of the mosque - for those who are late for prayer and are forced to perform prayer outside.

Muslims come with families to large mosques, especially Shiite ones (outwardly they can be easily recognized by their abundant ornamental decorations and a dome covered with gold or tiles; in addition, they were erected near the burial place of one of the descendants of the prophet), not only to worship the grave of the righteous, but also to communicate, spend time, show luxurious interiors to children. In the yards large mosques It is not forbidden to have a mini-picnic: the journey is long, and going to a cafe is expensive. No one will drink wine or fry meat, but sandwiches, fruits, and bottles of water laid out on a scarf are a common sight.

Often during religious holidays there are charitable events at mosques - for example, food distribution. Once in Tehran I treated myself to an excellent baked potato wrapped in pita bread with salt, and in Isfahan, on the occasion of the Ashura holiday, I stood in line for a free lunch - rice and meat with plums - and received it in a special thermal bag. True, this was during the days of the escalation of the conflict in Palestine, so the packaging bore the inscription (literally): Down with Israeli, down with USA - “Down with Israel, down with the USA.”

And one last thing. In some cities, at the entrance to a mosque, a kind of face control is introduced (extremely rarely and most often spontaneously). Some particularly religious elder may suddenly ask a person of unusual appearance: “Are you a Muslim?” ("Muslim?"). This happened to me twice: at the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem and at the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. What to do? If you really need to get inside - for example, to see with your own eyes a mosque with a retractable roof that can accommodate 25,000 worshipers - give a calm affirmative answer: “Yes, Muslim.” And you can pass. There is also a simpler option: wrap Muslim rosary beads around your fingers. Having seen them, even an Islamic fundamentalist will not ask any questions.

Illustrations by Eldar Zakirov


Total 67 photos

The second part of my story about the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul will be about its amazing interior spaces. We will carefully and as detailed as possible examine the mosque from the inside. The interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque, by the way, is no less majestic and impressive than its appearance, and maybe even more significant. So let's continue!

In 1660, the Suleymaniye Mosque was virtually destroyed by a severe fire. But the Turkish ruler Mehmed IV issued an order to restore this unique historical and religious monument. The restoration process was led by a man named Fossati. He made some changes to the appearance of the building, giving it features characteristic of the European Baroque style. In the 19th century, the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul regained its original appearance. However, during the First World War, the courtyard of the Muslim shrine, which we will also see, was used as a large warehouse for storing weapons and ammunition. Unfortunately, the whole thing predictably exploded, causing a massive fire. Restoration work after this emergency was completed only in 1956. The last current renovation was carried out in 2010.

The main front courtyard (located to the west in front of the main mosque building) can be accessed through three entrances. We will enter the courtyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque from the south side.
02.

This is precisely the southern portal of the courtyard.
03.

The courtyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque. The courtyard itself is surrounded by galleries (there are 24 columns in the galleries in total), and the portico is decorated with 28 domes.
04.

View of the southern portal from the courtyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque.
06.

Upper part of the southern portal.
07.

Colonnade of the courtyard and entrance to the mosque.
08.

Domes of the southern gallery of the mosque courtyard.
09.

Avlu (courtyard of the mosque) Suleymaniye (pictured below). In the center of the courtyard there is a marble square fountain for ritual ablutions, and in the corners there are four minarets, as a symbol of the fact that Suleiman is the fourth sultan since the Ottomans conquered Constantinople and the tenth of the Ottomans, therefore there are 10 balconies on the minarets (sherefe) - two minarets with two balconies , two - with three.

Suleymaniye Mosque in plan. On the right is the inner courtyard of the mosque and, curiously, each of its marble slabs.
12.

Shadyrvan is a ritual fountain for ablutions (on the right side of the frame in the photo below).
13.

The fountain is currently not functioning. You can, however, try to look inside the fountain structure through the decorative gratings.
14.

It's time to go into the mosque itself. This is the western side of the Suleymaniye Mosque with the colonnade.
15.

The main entrance to the Suleymaniye Mosque.
16.

By the way, before the construction of this mosque, Sultan Suleiman dreamed of the Prophet Muhammad, who indicated the place where it should be built. Waking up in deep excitement, the ruler gave praise to the Almighty and immediately called the architect Sinan to him.
"Oh, my Sultan, I stood next to you!" - exclaims the hastily appeared and excited master, telling the lord the details of the same dream.

18.

The outstanding skill of the architect Sinan was brilliantly demonstrated in the design of the interior layout and decoration of the mosque. The dome of Suleymaniye is illuminated by almost one and a half hundred windows so that a person entering the prayer hall of the mosque (63 m wide, 69 m long) is immediately enveloped in a stream of light that flows from the dome itself down to the ground. “Meshed” carpets are spread on the floor of the mosque, and the chandeliers, which are not very large in size, shine dimly and give the visitor an idea of ​​that era when everything inside was illuminated by candles, the total number of which could reach four thousand.
19.

Despite its impressive size, the mosque has a minimalist interior in details.
20.

At the same time, the interior decor and inscriptions are truly an aesthetic miracle.
21.

The hall of the building has excellent acoustics due to the use of special clay resonator jugs walled up in the walls. Related to the acoustics of the mosque interesting story. One day, Suleiman received a denunciation “from a well-wisher” that the architect Sinan was not at all involved in the construction of the mosque, but sat in it and smoked nargile (a type of hookah) all day long. The angry Sultan Suleiman decided to figure it out himself and personally went to the construction site with an inspection, where he actually found Sinan sitting in the middle of the mosque with a nargile, but the Sultan did not find any tobacco. It turned out that Sinan measured the acoustic properties of the interior of the mosque by gurgling water in the nargile and listening to how the sounds spread throughout the temple. The Sultan was satisfied, and Sinan continued his painstaking work) According to clergy, during the restoration work of 2007-2010. these very acoustics of the mosque suffered: “Unfortunately, during the restoration work, synthetic materials were used that did not exist at the time of the architect Sinan. Therefore, now the acoustics of the mosque have suffered, and sermons and prayers here no longer sound the same as before.”

The volume of the hall is decorated with various floral patterns, geometric patterns, and inscriptions from the Koran.
Also immediately noticeable inside are four huge monumental support columns.
22.

On the north and south sides there are two large arcades supported by red granite columns. One of these columns was brought from the Ljubljana Temple of Zeus (Baalbek), the second from Alexandria, the third from an Istanbul mosque and, finally, the last column from the vicinity of the Topkapi Palace. These columns symbolize the four Islamic caliphs.
23.

The room has 138 window openings through which sunlight penetrates inside.

26.

A dome was erected over the central hall of the mosque building. It is “laid” on massive support pillars with the help of “sails”. The weight of the dome is evenly “damped” through the side half-domes. To ensure the reliability of this basic structure, especially light and strong bricks were used.
28.

The calligraphic inscription in the main dome itself reads: “Allah is the light of heaven and earth. His light is like a niche; there is a lamp in it; a lamp in glass; the glass is like a pearl star. It is lit from the blessed tree - the olive tree, neither eastern nor western. Its oil is ready to ignite, even if it is not touched by fire. The light in the world! Allah guides whom He wills to His light!”
29.

According to some information, a fragment of the Kaaba stone ("Black Stone"), sacred to all Muslims, is embedded in the top of the Suleymaniye dome.
30.

The interior of the Suleymaniye Mosque was created by calligrapher Hasan Celebi.
31.

The mosque is also decorated with famous tiles from Iznik.
32.

The mihrab and minbar (pictured above) were built using white marble, above them there are colored stained glass windows - the work of master Ibrahim, nicknamed Sarkhosh, i.e. "Intoxicated")
39.

By the way, note that between the lamps there are hanging objects that look like large yellow eggs. What is curious is that these are only ostrich eggs. They are hung to protect the huge mosque building from spiders and cobwebs. Indeed, ostrich eggs have such a specific property of repelling spiders and other insects.
40.

Sinan used an ingenious engineering solution to remove the inevitable soot from four thousand burning candles. He built a “smokehouse” with holes in the upper part of the northern wall, where all the soot was drawn in by the draft and deposited there. And the soot was later used to make ink.
42.

Once upon a time, the mosque was illuminated by the light of thousands of candles, but now they have been replaced by electric lamps, appropriately and carefully stylized in shape.
43.

 

It might be useful to read: