“Allah, is the light of the heavens and the earth” This verse adorns the central dome of Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii. It offers a glimpse into the spiritual heart of this Istanbul mosque. Welcome. We’re standing at the corner where Selahattin P\u0131nar Caddesi meets Re\u015fi R\u0131za and O\u011fuz Streets. This is where the Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii stands in \u015ei\u015fli.
Let me tell you about its story. Back in 1966 Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik built a small concrete mosque here. It measured just 10×15 meters. As Mecidiyek\u00f6y grew the mosque became too small. It could not accommodate the increasing population, especially for Friday prayers. So in 1987 they decided to tear it down. A new, larger mosque was needed.
Construction began that year. The new Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii would measure 20×20 meters. It was a project supported by the Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Foundation and the community. By 1992 the Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii was complete. Ali Ra\u015fit Yaylak and H\u00fcseyin T\u00fcmen handled its architectural and engineering design.
The Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii has a main dome with 26 meters of interior height. Four semi domes and four corner domes surround it. The architects took inspiration from the Yeni Camii in Emin\u00f6n\u00fc. They reinterpreted its design in reinforced concrete. Stone cladding covers the exterior.
The Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii is a multi level structure. It has a basement, a ground floor, a main prayer hall and a gallery level. The ground slopes. So the south side is one floor higher than the north. Entrances to the basement and ground floor are on the north side. They face Selahattin P\u0131nar Caddesi.
The basement serves multiple purposes. It hosts weddings, circumcision ceremonies and meetings. On Fridays it accommodates the overflow from prayers. Stairs to the basement lead down from the north side. On the right is a tea room and to the left is the administration office.
Shops owned by the mosque’s foundation line the north and west sides of the ground floor. During Friday prayers this area opens to accommodate more worshippers. The main prayer hall can hold 18 rows of worshippers. Blue toned tiles cover the walls and columns. Wooden doors in the rear corners lead to the minarets. Stairways on both sides lead to the gallery.
Marble columns surround the gallery. Like the main hall the gallery’s lower section features tile work. The Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii’s interior dome is blue. Star like patterns decorate it. This creates an impression of the sky. It evokes a sense of infinity. Twenty stained glass windows encircle the main dome. Each semi dome features seven stained glass windows. Above the mihrab are eight more. The main hall has fourteen windows that open to the last congregation area.
Calligraphers have inscribed sacred words throughout the mosque. Around the main dome is the verse “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth”. At the heads of the four main columns are the words “Ya Deyyan, Ya Mennan, Ya Wahhab, Ya Hannan”. On the corners where the semi domes meet the columns are the names of Allah, Muhammad and the four caliphs.
The Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii’s mimbar mihrab and kursi are made of marble. A wooden cone dome tops the mimbar. On the marble mihrab the words “Turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque” are inscribed. To the right and left are the names of Allah and Muhammad. To the right of the entrance stands a small wooden muezzin’s platform.
The Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii can accommodate over 3000 worshippers. 2500 inside and 500 in the garden. The congregation includes people from nearby businesses and local residents. The mosque employs an imam and a muezzin. Crystal chandeliers hang from the central dome. Smaller ones adorn the semi domes. The mosque has both heating and air conditioning. Two minarets with two balconies each flank the mosque. They are constructed of concrete and clad in cut stone.
The Konyal\u0131 Hac\u0131 Tevfik A\u011fazade Camii stands as a testament to community and faith. It evolved from a small mosque to a larger house of worship. It meets the needs of a growing community. Remember the verse in the dome. Consider the light it represents.