“Toygar,” a nightingale’s other name. Does this small mosque echo with songs of the past? We are standing before the Toygar Hamza Çelebi Camii. This mosque carries centuries of Istanbul’s story within its walls. Its exact construction date remains a mystery. No inscription marks its origin. Yet, local accounts suggest it rose around 1453. This was during the momentous conquest of Istanbul.
Initially a humble mescit, the Toygar Hamza Çelebi Camii faced the trials of time. Despite numerous restorations, the original structure couldn’t survive. The mosque you see now is a testament to resilience. It was completely rebuilt in 1975. Its walls are made of masonry. A wooden roof protects its interior.
Let’s imagine the Üsküdar of centuries past. Picture this very street. It was once known as Çınar Yokuşu or Selamsız Caddesi. Now, it is Selami Ali Efendi Caddesi. The Toygar Hamza Çelebi Camii stands at the corner where this avenue meets Toygar Hamza Street.
Notice the surroundings of the Toygar Hamza Çelebi Camii. On the left once stood a fountain. Matbah Emini Halil Efendi commissioned it in 1707. To the right and a bit further ahead was Mehmet Ağa Mektebi. Beside it was the Toygartepe Nakşi Tekke. Only its graveyard and a small outbuilding remain today.
Evliya Çelebi a famous traveler mentioned Toygartepesi in his writings. His journeys began in the 1630s. He described the hill where the tekke and perhaps an earlier structure of the mosque stood.
Consider the diverse communities that have marked this area. In certain seasons, Afro-Turks gathered here. They practiced their traditional rites. A nearby street still bears the name Zenciler Sokağı meaning Negroes Street. Once, their numbers were significant during the Ottoman era. Now, they have dwindled.
Hacı Emir Efendi renovated the Toygar Hamza Çelebi Camii in 1920. He preserved its existing form. At that time, Ömer Efendi served as the tekke’s sheikh. He was also the head of the dervish singers.
Toygar Tepesi once held a grand Byzantine guardhouse. This strategic location offers panoramic views of Istanbul. It overlooks the Bosphorus.
The minber was placed by Matbah Emini el-hac Hâfız Halil Efendi during the reign of Sultan Mahmud I. The Toygar Hamza Çelebi Camii with its short minaret is more than a building. It is a place where history whispers. It reminds us of empires and cultural blends. It links us to Istanbul’s rich heritage.