Question: Ever wondered why Sultan Abdülhamid II built a mosque in 1887 in the Yildiz neighborhood? It is the Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque.
Welcome to the Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque. This Ottoman imperial mosque is located in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district. It is more than just a mosque. It’s a külliye a complex with a tekke, guest house, türbe, fountain, and library.
Sultan Abdülhamid II commissioned the Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque. He dedicated it to Ertuğrul Gazi the father of Osman I. Osman I founded the Ottoman Empire. The mosque also served soldiers of the Ertuğrul Regiment. These soldiers guarded the royal palace. They came from the Domaniç region.
Initially the Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque complex had only the mosque itself. There was also a tekke and a guesthouse. Later after Sheikh Hamza Zafir’s death in 1903 a türbe was added. Raimondo D’Aronco an Italian architect designed it between 1905 and 1906. The library and fountain were also added then. Sheikh Hamza Zafir was the founder of the Medeni branch of the Shadhili tariqa. This was a Libyan Sufi order. After his death his brothers became sheikhs of the tekke. They are buried in the türbe.
The Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque served as a guesthouse. Many sheikhs and Islamic scholars visited from around the Islamic world. This helped the Caliphate strengthen its position.
In 1925 tekkes were abolished. The Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque closed. The guesthouse became a primary school. It was named Şair Nedim Primary School. The buildings deteriorated and closed in 1960. The mosque was restored between 1969 and 1973. It reopened to the public. In 2008 another restoration began and lasted two years. President Abdullah Gül reopened the mosque and türbe on May 21 2010. Today the guesthouses remain ruined.
The Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque and guesthouses show late Ottoman classical architecture. The türbe library and fountain are Art Nouveau. The main building complex includes the mosque, a tevhidhane for religious ceremonies and a selamlik. The tekke has a harem area and a guesthouse.
The Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque stands as a testament to Ottoman history. It blends religious purpose with imperial power. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and its rich story.