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The Eyüp Sultan Mosque (Eyüp Sultan Camii) in Istanbul, Turkey, is considered by many to be the fourth holiest site in Islam. It’s located in the Eyüp district.
The Eyüp Sultan Mosque contains the tomb of Abu Ayub al-Ansari (d. 674), the standard-bearer and companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He died of dysentery during the First Arab Siege of Constantinople between 674 and 678.
The mosque was the traditional coronation site of Ottoman sultans. The new sultan would be girded with the Sword of Osman before continuing on a procession to Topkapi Palace.
History
The first mosque was built on the site between 1458 and 1459 by Mehmed the Conqueror after the tomb was discovered. The complex contained a hamam, soup kitchen, and madrasa, of which only the hamam has survived to this day.
The mosque was in ruins by the end of the 18th century, and Sultan Selim III ordered it to be torn down and rebuilt. The current mosque complex was built between 1798 and 1800 and contains fine Iznik tiles, crystal chandeliers, and a mixture of architectural styles.
The minarets date back to 1733, but the one on the Golden Horn side was rebuilt in 1823 by Sultan Mahmud II after it was damaged by lightning.
Gates
There are three gates to the mosque complex. Gate B is the entrance while Gate A and Gate C are exits. Gates A and B are both on Eyüp Sultan Square.
Outer Courtyard
Gate B leads to an outer courtyard where visitors and pilgrims can enter both the inner courtyard and the tomb of Abu Ayub al-Ansari. The outer courtyard contains an ablutions fountain (şadırvan) and an elevated corridor.
Inner Courtyard
The inner courtyard contains a large plane tree in the center. It’s fenced in and there are fountains on each of the four corners of the fence.
The entrance to the mosque is on the south side of the courtyard while the tomb of Abu Ayub al-Ansari is on the north side.
Gate C exits from the inner courtyard to the Cülus Yolu, which is a road the new sultans would take on their way to Topkapi Palace.
Just before the exit is the tomb of Lala Mustafa Pasha (1500-1580). He was a Grand Vizier under Sultan Murad III for the final three months of his life. The tomb was designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan (1490-1588).
Prayer Hall
The prayer hall of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque contains a marble minbar. There are galleries on three sides. It contains a single main dome resting on half domes. The main dome is 17 ½ meters in diameter.
Tomb of Abu Ayub al-Ansari
Back in the outer courtyard is the entrance to the tomb of Abu Ayub al-Ansari. After visitors remove their shoes, there’s a short corridor decorated with Kütahya tiles. It leads to the burial chamber room.
The tomb was built of cut limestone. It has an octagonal plan with a dome. The interior of the tomb is decorated with Kütahya tiles and calligraphy by Mustafa Rakım Efendi and Sultan Mahmud II. The sarcophagus of Abu Ayub al-Ansari is covered in silver.
Also buried in the tomb is Nişancı Mir Ahmed Pasha. He lived during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror and Bayezid II. I couldn’t find any information about him.
