High above us rises the minaret of the Ihsaniye Camii. This beautiful mosque has a rich history. It stands as a testament to Istanbul’s enduring spirit.
Let’s step back in time. Sultan Osman III ordered the construction of the Ihsaniye Camii in 1755. It was located in Üsküdar Salacak. The mosque sat between Dr. Sıtkı Özferendeci Street and Neyzenbaşı Halil Can Street.
Originally, the Ihsaniye Camii was built of wood. Disaster struck 108 years later. A fire consumed the mosque. For ten long years, it remained in ruins.
Then, Sultan Abdülaziz stepped in. He decided to rebuild the Ihsaniye Camii. This time it was constructed using masonry. An inscription above the entrance commemorates this event. It dates back to 1870. The inscription tells the story of the fire. It also celebrates the mosque’s rebirth.
The inscription reads that Sultan Osman Han-ı Salis first built this mosque. It was a place of worship for quite some time. Suddenly, it was completely burned ten years ago. The community sought a place of worship everywhere. With money spent from the endowments of Hümayun, this place of worship was rebuilt with masonry.
Many repairs have been done over the years. They have helped the Ihsaniye Camii stand until today. The mosque has a square layout and a wooden roof. Inside, you’ll find a marble mihrab. The minber is made of wood. The ceiling is concrete. A dome adorns the central part.
The Ihsaniye Camii has a single minaret with one balcony. Light streams in through upper and lower windows. Çanakkale tiles decorate the walls up to the lower windows. The mosque is bright and spacious.
There is also a small ablution facility built by Cemil Pasha. He was the son of Serasker Namık Pasha. This was added in 1883-84.
Another small Ihsaniye Camii exists. It is known as Küçük Ihsaniye Camii. Sultan Osman III commissioned it as a small prayer house. Later, Derviş Ahmed Efendi added a minber. This transformed it into a mosque.
The Küçük Ihsaniye Camii was repaired in 1765-1766 by Sultan Mustafa III. A new minaret was added in 1890-1891. By the 1980s only the base of the minaret remained. Two benefactors rebuilt it in 1989.
Both Ihsaniye Camii and Küçük Ihsaniye Camii stand as symbols of faith. They also represent resilience. They connect the past with the present. They invite us to reflect on history.