Although Istanbul is famous for many things, the mosques there are truly spectacular. Some of the most beautiful mosques are located in Istanbul, from the world-renowned Hagia Sofia to the more obscure and underrated ones, such as the Rustem Pasha Mosque. 

As Istanbul is home to so many mosques, you would think it has always been an Islamic nation, but you would be wrong. Most of the history in Istanbul was when the city and its empire’s (Byzantine Empire’s) main religion was Christianity, so all of the mosques in Istanbul were built fairly recently, well, that is, compared to the rest of the city’s long history. Christian churches stood here long before mosques did, as the first church was built in 330 A.D., compared to the year 1325 when the first mosque was built (the building was originally a Roman Catholic church, too!). 

The mosques of Istanbul were built during the period of the Ottoman Empire, which defeated the Byzantines and conquered Constantinople (the historical name of Istanbul) in 1453, less than 600 years ago. Since then, most of the mosques (built during the Ottoman Empire) you can see here today were built, the more imposing of them being commissioned by the several sultans in their honor. That is why the most impressive and grandest mosques were commissioned by the most important sultans. For example, the Suleymaniye Mosque (the second largest mosque in Istanbul) was instructed by Sultan Suleiman I (Suleiman the Magnificent). 

Now that you know a bit about why mosques are here in the first place, let me show you the most breathtaking and majestic ones out of all:

Hagia Sofia

This one probably did not surprise you much as it is one of the top things to do in Istanbul, but that’s for a reason. One step into the main hall I stood aghast. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at – it was too overwhelming to take in such a spectacular space that all I could do was stand at the entrance and take it all in. The painted frescoes of red and other colors were like magic on a plain wall. As this mosque was a converted cathedral, you could still catch glimpses of crosses or other covered-up paintings above the mihrab (the front section of the mosque). 

One thing that bothered me greatly was the direction the carpet was pointing; as this building was initially intended as a church, not a mosque, the direction of the entire building was slightly tilted to the left of Mecca, meaning the carpet covering the whole floor had to be facing slightly to the right (to face towards Mecca) – unnoticeable at first, but exponentially irritating and excruciating once you notice it. 

Blue Mosque

Another obvious choice, but for a reason, the Blue Mosque was particularly beautiful because of its tiles. Unfortunately for us, when we visited, most of the blue tiles were covered up due to renovation, so we didn’t get the full wow, but it was still gorgeous. The massive chandelier hanging from the top of the dome is a key feature in any mosque, but the one here was exceptionally enchanting, literally. It looked like floating candles in the middle of the room, like the ones in the dining hall in Hogwarts. During sunset, the inside of the mosque must be gorgeous as the orange light would refract from the stained windows and illuminate the tiles – a missed opportunity by us. 

Suleymaniye Mosque

The second biggest and third important mosque in Istanbul, we came here during the Friday prayer, or “Jumah,” the most important prayer of the week. We visited at noon, the time most people usually come, and were able to experience the rare opportunity of praying in the mosque. If you think that shouldn’t be allowed, a local Muslim was glad that we did and taught us more about their religion. We followed along and copied what everyone else was doing but stuck to the back of the room to avoid attention and potential disrespect. One thing that caught my attention was the last step of the prayer when everyone in the room went side by side, shoulder to shoulder, and slowly turned their heads right and left in synchrony. We later learned that that was to show everyone living on this planet was one being and one large “family”. No hierarchy, just the same status as everyone else. 

Rustem Pasha Mosque

Most of you have probably never heard of this mosque as it is obscured from the over-powering Suleymaniye Mosque next door. To enter the complex, you have to navigate through endless bazaars and up a spiral staircase above all of the surrounding shops, but once you’re inside, your mind will (hopefully) be blown. The blue tile patterns and geometric decorations in this mosque were my favorite out of any, even more than the Blue Mosque, which is famous for its blue tiles. 

Grand Mecidiye Mosque

Simple yet elegant, this minuscule mosque situated on the waterfront is a must-see. I wasn’t expecting much in the interior at first, but the colorful walls and almost Victorian-style-looking room added a whole other uniqueness to it different from any mosque I’ve been to. The outside is no exception too, I mean, how many mosques that you’ve been to are “floating” on the water like this?! 

There were countless other mosques in Istanbul that we didn’t have time for, and I’m sure they are all spectacular in their own rights. As far as I know, every sultan in the Ottoman Empire commissioned a mosque to be built for them (Selatin Mosques), and a large amount was for important people as well, which means there were several hundred built by the Ottomans throughout the city (425 to be exact). 

I couldn’t believe how many “hidden gems” there were in the city of Istanbul, and there were numerous ordinary-looking mosques that we skipped over that I’m sure were amazing, too. I said this before and I’ll say this again; apart from everything else, the mosques here are what keep the city alive, and that’s what makes them truly spectacular. The distant ambient noise of eloquent prayer calls fills the atmosphere every five times a day, and everyone stops what they’re doing – even if it’s just a silent thought.

This aspect of Istanbul’s culture undeniably stuck in my heart, and I recommend experiencing it the next time you travel here. Go to any mosque and participate or witness a prayer, and even if you’re not allowed inside, at least close your eyes and listen to the harmony of vocals melodizing from the minarets’ speakers. 

Exploring Istanbul was a cultural experience I never asked for and was completely worth it. It broadened my perspective on Muslim, and any other culture and changed my viewpoint from how I perceived different cultures at first and being naive about everyone’s – not just Westerners’ – cultural and religious beliefs. I hope everyone will finally understand how the world and its many misunderstood countries don’t just revolve around the West but have their side too, and after all, the population there only accounts for 15% of the world’s population.