Maarifi Mosque

Audio Narration

Construction Year

1818

Location

Kartal, İstanbul

Ordered by

Sheikh Seyyid Mehmed Maarifi

Architects

Unknown

Changes after its construction
  • The dervish lodge, which grew with the support of Sultan Mahmud II, was seriouslydamaged in the 1894 Istanbul earthquake, but was repaired in a short time and openedfor worship.
  • With the closure of the dervish lodges and zawiyas in 1925, the building began to beused as a residence, and the sections other than the Harem (where the sheikh lives)section turned into ruins over time.
  • In 1940, the abandoned buildings except the tevhidhane (where Sufi rituals wereobserved) and the tomb were demolished, thus a large part of the lodge disappeared.
  • The restoration work initiated in 1964 under the leadership of the sheikh grandchildren was an important step in saving the remaining sections.
  • In 1976, with the donations collected, the building was repaired again and started to beused as a mosque.
  • In 1980, the mosque underwent another comprehensive restoration, with the addition ofa minaret and a fountain, thus achieving its current appearance.
Prominent features
  • It is also known as “Maarifi Sultan Mosque” and “Muhammed Maarifi Mosque”.
  • It has a single minaret and a single balcony.
  • The minbar and the preacher’s pulpit are made of wood.
  • It was formerly a lodge belonging to the Maarifi branch of the Rufai Sufi order and wasbuilt by Sheikh Seyyid Muhammed Maarifi, the founder of the Maarifiye branch of RufaiOrder.
  • Initially used as the sheikh’s private house, it was later converted into a full-fledgeddervish lodge.
  • The lodge structures consisted of a tevhidhane, a tomb, a harem, a selamlık (wherevisitors to the lodge are welcomed), dervish cells and a kitchen.
  • According to records, it is one of the two Maarifi lodges in Istanbul, the other Maarifilodge is located in Kasımpaşa.