Eyup Sultan Mosque

The Beauty and Importance of Eyup Sultan Mosque

There are many mosques in Istanbul which are special in their own way. This could be due to their age, it could be due to who built it, the design, where they are, or it could be due to the Sultan who ordered it to be constructed. Most of Istanbul’s mosques date back to the earliest years of the Ottoman era, but there is one mosque which is extremely special for other reasons, besides the ones we’ve just listed.

You might automatically think of the Blue Mosque when we talk about Istanbul’s famous religious buildings, but to Muslim’s, Eyup Sultan Mosque is one of the most special.

Eyup Sultan Mosque is an extremely holy mosque, and the reason it is so important in the Muslim faith is that it is built on the site of the tomb (burial place) of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. The name ‘Eyup’ comes from the fact that this important name in Turkish translates to Eyup Ensari. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was the standard bearer and close friend of the Prophet Muhammed. He died during the Arab siege over Constantinople, which took place between 674 and 678.

The History and Architecture of Eyup Sultan Mosque

Fatih Sultan Mehmet II (Mehmet the Conquerer) ordered for the construction of Eyup Sultan Mosque to begin, after he took control of Constantinople in 1453. The orders to built the mosque were given five years after the battle too place. The original mosque wasn’t built in the greatest style or quality and it quickly became damaged and abandoned, as well as being hit quite badly by the large earthquakes which hit Istanbul during this time.

In 1800, Eyup Sultan Mosque was ordered to be rebuilt, and this time it was decided to go with a Baroque architectural style, with a stone colour which reflects hues of golden honey. Eyup Sultan Mosque is a beautiful mosque from the outside, but on the inside it is even more stunningly beautiful. The overall feel is sophisticated and elegant, and it has one large dome which measures around 17.5 metres across, with two half domes for support.

Eyup Sultan Mosque is place where many Muslims visit as a pilgrimage and it is considered to be the fourth most important spot in the world, after Mecca, for the Islamic religion. During religious holidays, you will find that the mosque is quite busy with people from all over the world visiting to pay respects and pray within the mosque, and during these times, the mosque may be closed or limited for general visitors. This may or may not be the case when you visit, depending on your timing, but it is something to be aware of.

Where is Eyup Sultan Mosque?

Eyup Sultan Mosque is located in a quite traditional neighbourhood, called Eyup, near to Fatih and on the Golden Horn. When visiting this area in general, it’s a good idea to dress conservatively, so as not to attract unwanted attention, and also to respect the people who live their daily lives in this area.

You can reach Eyup by bus or you can walk, but it will take around half an hour on foot from Eminonu to reach this part of the city. Buses are very regular however, and a good, cost-effective way to reach the area.

You can visit the tomb of Eyup as part of your visit to the mosque itself, and this is a very beautiful and calm spot to head to. The tomb is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am until 4.30pm, and it is here you will find many Muslim visitors standing in quiet contemplation. The tomb is covered in decorated tiles which really do give a very sombre and beautiful feel to the site.

Visiting Eyup Sultan Mosque

Most people follow a set route when visiting Eyup Sultan Mosque, and it’s a good idea to do the same, because it will show you the best of the area. There is a cable car which runs from the Eyup neighbourhood, up to the top of what is referred to as ‘Pierre Loti’ hill. This is named after the cafe/restaurant which sits at the top of the hill and it’s definitely worth a visit for some delicious, fresh pastries and Turkish cay!

Once you reach the top of the hill, sit at the cafe and enjoy the view, which stretches right over the Golden Horn, and is one you will want to capture on your camera, for sure. From there, take a leisurely walk back down the hill and through Eyup cemetery, before reaching the mosque itself, which sits at the bottom of this hill.

There is no admission price into the mosque, but donations will be very greatly received and will help with the future upkeep of this extremely important place, not only within Istanbul, but within the entire Muslim religion. The mosque is open every day, from 9am until 6pm, however do remember that it is working mosque, so it will be closed to general visitors during prayer times. Again, you should check during religious holidays, such as Ramadan and Kurban Bayram, as there will be more prayer times, and therefore the mosque may be closed more often at these times.

The chance to visit such a sacred, holy, and beautiful place during your visit to Istanbul should certainly not be missed.