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.