Ever wonder why so many mosques bear the name Selimiye? The Selimiye Mosque in Karlsruhe is just one of many. These mosques are named in memory of the Sultan’s Mosque in Edirne.
Let’s explore why this name is so significant. The Sultan’s Mosque Selim II was built in Edirne between 1568 and 1575. Mimar Sinan the Ottoman court architect designed it. It is considered his masterpiece. Selim III also had a mosque of the same name built in 1803. That one is the Selimiye Camii in Üsküdar.
The name Selim is Turkish and Arabic. It means perfect or immaculate. This gives you an idea of what the founders hope the Selimiye Mosque in Karlsruhe will be.
Many Selimiye Mosques exist across Germany. You can find them in Augsburg Allersberg and Bamberg. There are Selimiye Mosques in Berlin Bremen and Bremerhaven too. Dortmund Duisburg and Fürth also have one. The list goes on with Germersheim Gütersloh and Gundelsheim. Hamm Hechingen and Herrenberg have their own Selimiye Mosques. Hildesheim Horn-Bad Meinberg and of course Karlsruhe are also on the list. There are even more in Kiel Lehrte and Lünen. Mainz Niederkassel and Nordenham also have Selimiye Mosques. Oberhausen Oberstenfeld and Siegen join the ranks. Finally Troisdorf Völklingen and Wertheim complete the German list.
The Selimiye name extends beyond Germany too. You can find them in Albania and the Netherlands. Austria also has a Selimiye Mosque in Saalfelden. Turkey features the original Selimiye Mosque in Edirne and another in Üsküdar. Even Cyprus boasts a Selimiye Mosque.
The mosque in Edirne is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Construction began in 1568 by decree of Selim II. It was completed quickly in 1575. This is amazing given the technology at the time. Mimar Sinan designed 85-meter majestic minarets.
Two minarets have three balconies near the front door. Three people can climb these at the same time. They can reach the third balcony without seeing each other. The minarets at the four corners help the building’s structure.
The Selimiye Mosque is one of the world’s largest structures. Inside it has 1620 square meters of space. The dome is over 43 meters high and 31 meters wide. It rests on eight huge columns. Mimar Sinan used fewer half domes than before. He carefully planned the windows to handle the load. He made the interior very bright despite limited windows.
Inside you’ll find beautiful details and decorations. The marble work on the minbar and mihrab is impressive. The pencil work under the muezzin’s mahfil is outstanding. İznik tiles with 101 tulip patterns add to the beauty.
The Selimiye Mosque and its buildings form a külliye or complex. The courtyard has schools like Dar al-Sibyan Dar al-Qurra and Dar al-Hadith madrasas. There is also Dar al-Muwaqqit and a library. The arasta a bazaar supports the complex financially.
The Selimiye Mosque in Karlsruhe like others shares a name with a masterpiece. It is a reminder of Ottoman architecture and Islamic culture. It connects this city to a rich history and a global community.