Sultan Ahmad Masjid
It was constructed between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmad I .As was the custom ,this masjid like others masjid of the times ,comprises a tomb of the founders a madrassah a hospice .
Construction of the masjid started in 1609 .The royal architect Sendefhar Mehmat Aga ,wasappointed by the Sultan as in charge of the project .The opening ceremony was held in 1616 .Unfortunately ,the Sultan could not see the completions of the masjid in his life .It was completed in the reign oh his successor Mustafa I.
Blue Masjid reflects the architectural styles of both Ottoman masjid and Byzantine church .Hagia Sophia ,a masjid one of the wonders of Muslims architecture ,was also kept in view as a model.Blue Masjid even today is considered to be unmatched in splendour ,majesty and size .
The masjid has a spacious forecourt surrounded by a continuous vaulted arcade .It has ablutions facilities on both sides .In the centre there is a fountain which is rather small in contrast with the magnitude of the courtyard .A heavy iron chain hangs in the upper part of the the court entrances on the western sides .This sides was meant for the Sultan alone .The chain was put there so that the Sultan had to lower his head every times he entered the court .It was the symbolic gesture to ensure the humility of the ruler in the face of the divine .
The interior of the masjid at the lower level is lined with more than 20,00 hand-made ceramic tiles in more than 50 different tulip designs .At gallery level the design becomes flamboyant with representations of flower,fruits and cypresses .
The upper level of the interior is adorned with blue paints .More than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs allow natural light to brighten up its interior and the chandeliers further illuminate it with their glow .The decorations including Ayat from Holy Quran .The floors are covered with carpets .
The most importants elements in the interior of the masjid is the mihrab ,which is made of finely carved marble .To the right of the mihrab is a richly decorated pulpit .The masjid is so designed that even when it is most crowded ,everyone in the masjid can hear and see the Imam.
The Royal room is situated at the south east corner .It has its own puppet that used to be decorated with jude and roses.
The blue masjid has six minarets .Four minarets standing one each at the four corner of the masjid .Each of these pencil shaped minarets has three balconies ,while the others two at the ends of the forecourt have only two balconies .
In the evening, a large number of tourists and Turks gather in the park facing the masjid to hear the call to the evenings namaz .the masjid is flooded with lights and so are the hearts of the believers with divine love .Though much has been lost of blue Masjid over the years yet it has not lost the love of its visitors .The masjid is still one of the most frequently visited monuments of the worlds.
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