Karabaş Veli Mosque
Changes After Its Construction:
- The minbar of the mosque was put up by Kilisli Hoca Hüseyin Efendi, who was dismissed from
Edirne and came to Istanbul and died here. - It was renovated by Gonca Hatun in 1890. It is stated in the sources that a portion of the
expenses of the masjid during the Ottoman period were given by the Bayezid II and Şehzade
(Prince) Sultan Mehmed Foundation. - It was repaired in 1965 and 1978.
- It was completely demolished and rebuilt in 1997.
- Its sinks and fountains were renewed by Fatih Municipality in 2021.
Prominent Features:
- The mosque was built by Sheikh Abdurrahman Efendi, the author of the famous work called
“Karabaş Tecvidi”*. This person was the teacher of Sultan Osman II (Genç Osman). He was
called Karabaş Efendi (Blackhead Efendi) by the people because he wrapped a black turban
around his crown (fez). The benefactor is buried in front of the mihrab. The date on the
tombstone is 1533-1534. - When you enter the Karabaş Veli Mosque from the street and the courtyard, there are ablution
areas and toilets on the right. In front of the mosque opposite, you can reach the narthex with
six wide marble steps on three sides. The narthex has a slightly lower ceiling than the mosque
and its walls are made of cut stone. - Its roof is covered with tiles.
- The entrance wall to the harim is completely covered with tiles. Entering harim, there is the
muezzin area on the right, then the imam’s room. There is an exit door to the minaret in the
same corner. - The minbar, mihrab and pulpit were once made of marble, but in the last restoration all three
were covered with tiles. - The wooden and flat ceiling was made of reinforced concrete this time and painted with white
lime. - The upper gallery has preserved its wooden state; the bottom is polished and the railings are
painted. - The walls are covered with wooden paneling half a meter high from the ground, and the other
parts are painted with plastic paint. - The minaret of the Karabaş Veli Mosque is on the right and has a single balcony.
- Its base is made of cut stone, and its cylindrical body is given a serrated shape.
- There is a basement under the mosque; there is an entrance door from outside on the left wall
and “Gonca Hanım Ladies Section” is written on it.
