Recall Akşemseddin’s name. He was Sultan Mehmed II’s teacher. He was also a great scholar. Now look at the Akşemseddin Cami before you. This mosque carries his name. It stands as a testament to his legacy in Istanbul’s Fatih district.
The Akşemseddin Cami is near the intersection of Keçiler Street and Yamak Street. The Hırka-i Şerif Cami is only 200 meters away. Akşemseddin was a follower of Hacı Bayram Veli. Legend says he located Eyüp Sultan’s tomb in a dream. He also predicted Istanbul’s conquest. His actual tomb is in Göynük, Bolu.
Akşemseddin Cami was first built in 1455. Akşemseddin himself commissioned it. Later, it underwent renovations. These occurred during the reigns of Ahmet III and Abdülhamid II.
Notice the building’s layout. The lower level houses the Akşemseddin Cultural Center. Beside the mosque is the Dervişoğlu Foundation Şemseddin Cultural Center. Three large plane trees stand in the courtyard. The courtyard is enclosed by walls. An inscription about Akşemseddin’s life can be seen to the right as you enter. Another inscription is on the wall to the left. Two fountains are also located here.
The Akşemseddin Cami’s minaret is unique. It is white. It stands to the left of the entrance. This deviates from classical mosque design. The mosque’s walls are stone. Its roof is wooden. The entrance has glass partitions. This leads to a covered area for latecomers. Another glass door leads to the main hall.
Inside the Akşemseddin Cami, the hall spans 50 square meters. There is no traditional raised platform. Instead, a large lectern stretches across the room. A recessed library sits in the corner where a platform would normally be. The ceiling reflects the inner shape of the pitched roof. Verses and sayings adorn the white walls. The Farewell Sermon plaque is also displayed.
Look at the windows. The words Allah, Muhammed, Ebubekir, Ömer, Osman, and Ali are painted on the glass above the windows. The pulpit and niche are marble. Unlike other mosques, the pulpit is a mini-pulpit with only four steps. The covered area above the entrance is a women’s section.
The Akşemseddin Cami has a small kiosk at the corner. This is where the two streets meet. A marble-paved courtyard is entered through an iron gate. The Akşemseddin Foundation renovated the mosque in 1994. A door to the women’s section is to the left of the courtyard entrance. The imam’s room is next to this door. The area to the right of the mosque is where the musalla taşı is located. The exterior walls are painted white. There are three burial grounds in the direction of Mecca. They are at the front, on the left, and at the courtyard entrance.
Akşemseddin was more than a teacher. His real name was Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamza. He was a Sufi and a scientist. In his book “Maddet-ül Hayat”, he discussed microorganisms. He stated that diseases spread through unseen seeds.
Today, the Akşemseddin Cami remains open for worship. It welcomes visitors daily. The mosque reminds us of Akşemseddin’s contributions. His legacy endures through this beautiful structure.