Hirka-i Serif Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Fatih, Turkey.
The Hirka-i Serif Mosque is an Ottoman mosque in the Fatih district of Istanbul, built on an octagonal floor plan with three entrances on each side. The interior is divided into a main prayer hall and a separate chamber where a sacred relic is kept.
Sultan Abdulmejid I ordered the mosque to be built between 1847 and 1851, after the surrounding neighborhood was reorganized. It was completed during a period when the Ottoman Empire was renewing many of its religious buildings.
The mosque holds the cloak said to have belonged to the Prophet Muhammad, which is displayed to the public only during Ramadan and draws large crowds each year. During this period, the prayer hall fills with visitors who wait quietly in line for a chance to view it.
Visitors are expected to dress modestly and remove their shoes before entering the prayer area. It is worth checking in advance whether visiting times outside of prayer hours are available, especially during Ramadan.
The building was modeled on the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and shares its octagonal shape, which is very unusual for Ottoman mosque architecture. This was not accidental but a deliberate choice meant to reflect the importance of the relic housed inside.
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