المعالم الأثرية في اسطنبول ( جامع السلطان أحمد )

مسجد السلطان أحمد - المسجد الأزرق

جامع السلطان أحمد أو الجامع الأزرق

هو أحد أشهر وأهم المساجد في مدينة إسطنبول ، يقع المسجد في ميدان السلطان أحمد ويقابله متحف آيا صوفيا. يشتهر المسجد بعمارته المميزة حيث يعد من أهم وأضخم المساجد في العالم الإسلامي. بُني المسجد بين عامي 1018 - 1020هـ / 1609 - 1616م حسب إحدى النقوشات على إحدى أبوابه.

 مهندسه محمد آغا أشهر المعماريين الأتراك بعد سنان باشا وداود أغا.

يقع المسجد جنوبي آيا صوفيا وشرق ميدان السباق البيزنطي القديم .

 وله سور مرتفع يحيط به من ثلاث جهات، وفي السور خمسة أبواب، ثلاثة منها تؤدي إلى صحن المسجد واثنان إلى قاعة الصلاة.

 يتكون الصحن من فناء كبير، ويتوسط الصحن ميضأة سداسية محمولة على ستة أعمدة، أكبر الأبواب التي تؤدي إلى الصحن يظهر فيه التأثر بالفن الفارسي.

 داخل المسجد على شكل مستطيل طولي ضلعيه 64 م و 72 م وتتوسطه قبة كبيره يحفها أربعة أنصاف قبة، كما أن كل ركن من أركان المسجد مغطى بقبب صغيرة ،بها عدد كبير من النوافذ المنفذة للضوء.

 يعلو المسجد ست مآذن لاقت صعوبات في تشييدها، إذ كان المسجد الحرام يحتوي على ست مآذن ولاقى السلطان أحمد نقدا كبيرا على فكرة المآذن الست، لكنه تغلب على هذه المشكلة بتمويل بناء المئذنة السابعة في المسجد الحرام ليكون مسجده المسجد الوحيد في تركيا الذي يحوي ست مآذن.

 و يقال أن السلطان أحمد كان قبل توجهه للحج قد أمر رئيس وزرائه ببناء مأذنة ذهبية للمسجد ( و كلمة ذهب تعني " ألتين" باللغة التركية)، و مع استحالة تنفيذ هذا المطلب اقتصاديا، تظاهر رئيس الوزراء بأنه قد سمعها "ألتي" و تعني "ستة" باللغة التركية.

 The Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built between 1609-1617 (the construction took about 7,5 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 build this great mosque to Sedefkâr Mehmet Aga. He showed his dedication to the construction by personally working as a labourer. He reigned the Land of Ottomans (included 3 continents) for 14 years and he passed away when he was 28 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 sedefkarlık (inlaying of mother –of- pearl) and architecture department of  The Palace in 1569-1570, 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. After Great Sinan’s death he became The Chief Architect. Having become The Chief Architect, his first work was the reparation of The Kaaba (which is named as “The House of Allah” in the Holy Qur’an by Allah Himself) and installation of its famous Golden Gutters.

Külliye (Sultan Ahmed Complex)  

When the 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 Sultanahmet Mosque also included 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 ‘Muvakkithane’ ‘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 (Sıbyan Mektebi), in addition to the main centre   inside the mosque (in which the visitors have chance to go in and get information about the Mosque and Islam by meeting the Imam directly), is currently used as one of the mosque’s info centres.

The Name of the Mosque

 “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 of 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.”(Qur’an 24:35)

Even though it has been known with this name by most of the Westerners the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has never been called by the Turks as “the Blue Mosque” throughout the history. It was

called like that by Western visitors because of its famous blue tiles from Iznik (Nicaea) that adorn the interior walls of the mosque. These are more than 21.000 in number. In those handmade tiles along blue colour also white, green and other colours were used. However, the dominant colour when entering the mosque is obviously blue. The floral patterns represent Earth in spring time as well as Gardens of Paradise. The beautiful decoration inside the prayer hall and the abundant light from windows give a feeling of serenity (unlike some gloomy structures) and attract people to the mosque. Thus, the construction process of the magnificent mosque called Blue Mosque by the Westerners, Sultan Ahmed Mosque by Turks which is the most well-known building of the area known as Hippodrome in Byzantine period, Horse Square in Ottoman period and called Sultan Ahmed square nowadays.

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. (This is such a religious requirement to be clean in the place of praying like having ablution before praying and making the body and dress clean as well).

The greatest Arabic calligraphic examples on the interior walls of the Sultanahmet 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.   

Inside the mosque there are four very large pillars with a diameter of 5 metres. 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 Qur’an 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) is translated here to provide an example:

 “And when My servants ask you about Me - indeed 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 believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (Qur’an 2:186)

Main features of the Mosque

“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.”Qur’an 2:277

İnterior space gives the feeling of interior area of a large palace place but it also has a mystical atmosphere. Hand-made colourful original ground carpets, various chandeliers and lamps, reading desks and Qur’an manuscripts on them advance the magnificence of this religious place with a palace look. 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 beatiful 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 Qur’an which mention the names of some holy people mentioned in relation to a special praying place (mihrab).

On top: Whenever Zachariah entered the Mihrab, he found provision (food) with her (Mary). Qur’an 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…) Qur’an 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 10.000 inside the main hall. 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 Mahfeli (Muazzin’s Lodge):

After the call to prayer from the minaret finishes, 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 congregation (this process is called tasbeeh and in Turkish culture a prayer bead is usually used to count).

Hunkar Mahfeli (The Royal Lodge):

“Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.”  Qur’an 4:58

Some Muslim 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 somehow confirms this opinion.

The central stone was called ‘kilit taşı’ which literally means ‘locking stone’. This is a huge stone carefully carved and placed so that it pushes all the 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 Qur’an 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.”Qur’an 35:41

Exterior of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque

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 5 times a day. The announcement is made in Arabic language and is roughly translated here:

Allah is greatest. (x4)

I bear witness that there is no god except Allah. (x2)

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. (x2)

Come to prayer. (x2)

Come to success. (x2)

Allah is greatest. (x2)

There is nogod exceptAllah.

*Morning call to prayer has one additional sentence which means

‘Worship is better than sleep’.

This is a motivational reminder that waking up at this time to worship God is more beneficial in the long run.

Ablution Facilities

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 elbows, faces, and feet. Hair is simply rubbed with a wet hand. This also avoids the dirt to be carried into the prayer hall as well as disturbing smell from feet etc. The ablution facilities for Muslim women are in a covered area for privacy.

The Main Gate of the Mosque    

It looks to the side of the ‘Hippodrome’ where the obelisks 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 nogodexcept Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.

The second is placed just above the arch and is a quotation from the Qur’an. This also explains the purpose of the building. It means:

“Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times.”Qur’an 4:103

 Some Numbers for the Sultan Ahmed 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 x 49.47 (2646 m2).

*The inner courtyard has about 30 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.

La Mosquee de Sultanahmet Qui fait construire: Sultan Ahmet I (1590-1617) Architecte: Sedefkar Ahmet Ağa Date: 1609-1616-7 14.ème monarque de l’empire Ottomane Ahmet Han I qui a monté sur le trône à 14 ans pour régner 14 ans, a fait construire La Mosquée de Sultan Ahmet en face de Saint Sophie dans le quartier qu’il a donné son nom. L’architecte Mehmet Ağa a vu un autre voie devant lui quand en 1569-1570 dans la Cour pour les travails de nacrage et d’architecture; et pendant 21 ans, il devient disciple du Sinan le Grand. Apres la mort de Sinan, il devient chef-architecte. Son premier oeuvre était la restauration de “Caaba” et la construction des célèbres gouttières en or. Lieu et construction de la mosquée: Le palais d’Ayşe Sultan était en direction de “Caaba” sur la place des cheveaux (Hippodrome), près du palais Topkapı. Il avait la vue de mère, une grande place libre et isolé; alors, le monarque l’a approuvé. Il a envoyé trente mille pièce d’or pour acheter ses terrains du Sultan mentionnée. Au jour de sapage de la mosquée, il est organisé un grand sérémonie selon les manières Ottomanes. Il était le mois d’octobre de l’an 1609. Les grands dignitaires de l’Etat sont réunis au grand place ouverte à la suite des démolissements. Le premier coup de pioche est donné par Sultan Ahmet Han. Ce pioche est aujourd’hui au Musée du Palais Topkapı. Pendant ses opérations, Sultan Ahmet Han a transporté le premier parti des terres avec ses pans et il a invoqué au Dieu: “Ô Dieu, c’est l’offre de ton créature...” Ce jeudi, d’innombrable sacrifice a lieu et donné un banquet aux pauvres. Des dons et présents sont offerts. La mosquée est completée le 9 Juin 1617. En conséquence, la construction a durée pendant 7 ans 5 mois 6 jours. L’ouverture à prière de la mosquée était magnifique. Ce jour là, les saccrifices était innombrables. On a donné de banquet, des présents aux pauvres. Tout le monde était heureux. Il était comme un fête. A la suite de la première prière (namaz) on a offert des chapelets en corail à tout le monde. Les chapelets étaient laissés devant tous qui sont en train de prier. Puisque les chapelets en corail sont épuisés, on a passé aux chapelets en bois. Ses chapelets étaient faites du bois sandals à l’odeur agréable de l’Océan d’Inde. Identification de la mosquée: La partie centrale destinée pour la prière est un réctangle proche au carré: 53.50 x 49.47 m. Tout l’entrée principale est 47 m2. La mosquée est en forme d’un trèfle à quatre feuillets. Pour empecher la monotonie, on a construit des galleries en dehors de la coté sud. Pour cette raison, la mur de “Caaba” est à l’opposée des autres. Il ne se trouve pas des niches en face des paillets excentrés. A l’autre cotés, les trois places de réunions ayant des socles sont deux en sud par les obligations architecturales. Le pied d’élephant à quatre patte est très efficace. Meme ils sont très grands, ils ont plusieurs profils convexes sur les parties exterieurs. En haut, il se trouve une bande contenant des inscriptions séparant la partie superièure sculpté de la partie inferièure. Ses dimensions détériorent les dimensions de la coupole ayant 23m 50 de diamètre et 43 m de hauteur. Ses dimensions humbles témoigne la capacité comme l’ingénieur de Mehmet Ağa. L’intérieur de la mosquée est spacieuse, grâce à 260 fenêtres répartis avec ingéniosité. Grâce à cette répartissement, la grande coupole semble être en suspension à l’air. En ce temps là, les fenêtres étaient ornés avec des vitrailles à fleurs; ils ne se trouvait pas des vitres simples et ses ornement étaşent des grandes oeuvres d’arts. Tous les grands voyageurs étrangers ayant visités la mosquée en ce temps là, ont admirés le jeu de couleur des vitrailles. Les faiances, les panneaux réalisés par parfaite disposition de ses faiances ou les vastes compositions de desseins réalisés par l’organisation des differents pièces sont exposés sur les murs de Mosquée de Sultan Ahmet. Les couleurs et desseins sont différenciés selon la date de production et l’attelier fournisseur. Sur les faiances datant la fin du 16. ème siècle et le commencement du 17. ème siècle, sont produitent en İznik et Kütahya, on peut voir des compositions d’oeils. Les pièces carrés sont blanches, les rectangles de bordures sont bleu sombres; sur ses rectangles, il se trouve des desseins des feuilles de vigne, articaut, prune, fleurs de grenades, girofle, menthe, grouppages de fleurs en médailles de violette, verveine, jacinthe, jasmin, les grappes de raisin, les arbres et feuilles en turquoise, gris, maron, rouge, corail, noir, bleu sombre, bleu, violet, vert. Selon les registres de la mosquée, on a utilisé 21 043 pièces de faiances. L’autel, la chaire, la pièce du monarque de la mosquée de Sultan Ahmet sont des chef d’oeuvres. L’autel en marbre ornée avec des faiances ayant des desseins de fleurs est cernés avec des colonnes sur les quels sont sculptés des desseins de cyprès. La chaire en carreaux géometriques et en relief est ornées avec l’or. La pièce de monarque est un vrai chef-d’oeuvre avec sa porte ayant des incrustrations nacrés et les desseins fins de ses murs. La cour intérieure est pavée en marbre et cerclés avec 30 portiques en dômes istallés sur 26 colonnes. Au milieu de la cour, il se trouve une fontaine des ablutions à six colonnes ornés avec des girofles et des tulipes. L’aspect magnifique des faiances vert-cendres sont valorisés avec un verset écrite avec l’or en dessus. On n’a jamais vu ce verset à un autre place. C’est la seule mosquée ayant six minarets. Les quatres minarets ont trois, les deux autres ont deux galeries entourant pour que hodja annonce à haute voix l’heure de la prièere. Avant la construction de cette mosquée, la seule ayant six minarets étaient la Mosquée de Mekke. Pour préserver l’orijinalité de cette mosquée, on l’a ajouté une septième. Les minarets ont 16 galeries pour symboliser que Ahmet I est 16. ème monarque de l’empire. Puisqu’Ahmet est en réalité 14. ème monarque, on pense que les fils de Beyazıt, Emir Süleyman et Musa Çelebi sont comptés entre les monarques Ottomanes. Il n’est pas vrai que Sultan Ahmet avait l’intention de faire construire une mosquée ayant les minarets d’or. Il est possible qu’on raconte ses histoires à cause des pavements d’or des bonnets des minarets.

شركة تركيا للسياحة والسفر:

تقع شركتنا في قلب العاصمة السياحية لتركيا فاتح تتميز شركتنا بحسن الضيافة لزبائننا الأكارم وبالاضافة لفريق العمل المتمرس بمهنة السياحة والذين يقومون باعداد البرامج السياحية الجميلة والممتعة والمتضمنة زيارات لافضل المعالم الاثرية والمناطق الطبيعة التي تشتهر فيها دولة تركيا .

بالاضافة لخدماتنا المميزة بالنسبه لتأمين الفنادق بأفضل الاسعار وتأجير أحدث السيارات مع تميزنا بسائقينا ذوي الخبرة بالمناطق السياحية والذين يتمتعون بحسن الأخلاق والضيافة .

كما حرصنا على تقديم أفضل الشقق الفندقية والتي تعتبر للعائلات كوسيلة أفضل للراحة من الفندق والتي ميزناهم بالمفروشات المريحة وجهزناهم على اعلى مستوى للراحة . تم التعاقد من قبل شركتنا مع أفضل المستشفيات والمراكز الطبية والمنتجعات العلاجيه بافضل الاسعار وخصوصا مع مراكز زراعة الشعر والاسنان لنكون مميزين بهذا المجال .

خصصنا فريق عمل من اجل متابعة أخبار العقارات والمشاريع الاستثمارية في تركيا لنتيح للمستثمرين من الدول الاخرى الاطلاع على اخبار الاستثمار في تركيا بالاضافة لنكون وسيلة ربط بين المستثمر العربي والمستثمر التركي وذلك عن طريق كوادرنا المتقنه للغتين العربية والتركية . احدى خدماتنا التي نتميز بها أيضا نقوم بتأمين القبولات الجامعية لمن يود الدراسة في تركيا مع تسهيل اجراءات المعاملات المتعلقة بالدراسة الجامعية .