badge icon

This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.

Article

Süleymaniye Camii

Quote
Hz-Suleyman-Cami-_2_.jpg

Süleymaniye Camii

Name(s)

Hz. Süleyman Camii

Other Name(s)

Nasiriyye Camii

Kale Camii

Murtaza Paşa Camii

Meşhed Camii

Location

Diyarbakır İç Kalesi

the wall edge south of Oğrun Gate

Construction Date(s)

1155–1160 (according to inscriptions on the minaret)

Patron

Nisanoğlu Kemaleddin Abu'l-Qasim Ali (with the title Cemalüddevle)

Architect(s)

Hibetullah al-Gurgani (approximate)

Material(s)

Black basalt stone

Historical Significance

and other companions

son of Khalid ibn al-Walid

the Meşhed and pilgrimage site containing the graves of Süleyman

The starting point of the conquest of Diyarbakır during the time of Hz. Ömer

Structural Features

square-shafted minaret (northeast) – sulus inscriptions – Rumi and palmette motifs

mihrab niche and calligraphic decorations on the ceiling

the final prayer hall transitions to the harem area from here

Rectangular plan oriented north-south

Restorations and Additions

tomb and fountain to the north

and fountain to the west

prayer area

Tomb of the Companions

1875: Decoration renewal and tomb restoration by Ahmet Tevfik Paşa

1656–1658: Additional repairs by Silahtar Murtaza Paşa

1631–1633: Restoration by Silahtar Murtaza Paşa – addition of a fountain and toilet

Current Condition

Continues to hold importance as a place of worship and pilgrimage

Hz. Süleyman Camii; Nasiriyye Camii, Meşhed Camii, Murtaza Paşa Camii and Kale Camii like are among the historical and religious structures of Diyarbakır known by various names. According to inscriptions on its minaret, it was built between 1155 and 1160 during the rule of the Nisanoğulları by Nisanoğlu Kemaleddin Ebu’l Kasım Ali, who bore the title Cemalüddevle. Based on its architectural features, the architect is believed to have been Hibetullah el-Gürgani. Although the exact date of the mosque’s initial construction is not definitively known, the minaret’s inscription confirms these dates.


Hz. Süleyman Camii (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Location and Historical Significance

The mosque was constructed on a sloping site adjacent to the tower south of the Oğrun Gate within Diyarbakır Inner Castle. Its most important feature is that the conquest of Diyarbakır during the time of Hz. Omar is traditionally believed to have begun at this location. Adjacent to the mosque, the Meşhed area was reorganized during the Ottoman period and contains the graves of Süleyman, son of Khalid ibn al-Walid, and other companions who were martyred during the conquest of Diyarbakır. This association has transformed the mosque into a place of pilgrimage, a status it continues to maintain today.


Hz. Süleyman Camii (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Architectural Features

The mosque occupies a north-south oriented area, with the transition to the harem section occurring from the northernmost end. Interior decoration is limited to the mihrab niche and ceiling motifs. Exterior ornamentation is concentrated on the inscriptions of the minaret. The northeastern, single-shaft minaret is divided into five sections by smooth horizontal bands. Inscriptions in sülüs script, adorned with curved branches featuring Rumi and palmet motifs, have been applied to its surface and are framed on three sides by half-grooves and smooth bands. The eastern inscription is in better condition than the southern one.


Hz. Süleyman Camii (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Renovations and Additions

Building has undergone various renovations and additions throughout history. Between 1631 and 1633, Silahtar Murtaza Paşa carried out a major restoration of the mosque and its附属 structures; during his governorship in 1631–1632 and 1656–1658, Murtaza Pasha added classrooms and toilets to the complex. In 1875, the Governor of Diyarbakır, Ahmet Tevfik Paşa, renewed the mosque’s decorative elements and restored its tomb. Built of black basalt stone, the mosque has become a composite structure incorporating elements from different periods. To its west stand the Sahabeler Türbesi, a courtyard and a fountain; to its north, a madrasa and another fountain.


Hz. Süleyman Camii (Diyarbakır Governorate)

Current Condition

Hz. Süleyman Camii, one of Diyarbakır’s most important centers of faith, has been enriched over the centuries through continuous restoration and additions, and today continues to serve as both a place of worship and pilgrimage.


Hz. Süleyman Camii (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Bibliographies

Culture Portal. "Hazret Süleyman Camii | Kültür Portalı." Accessed April 6, 2025. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/diyarbakir/gezilecekyer/hazret-suleyman-cam

Diyarbakır Valiliği. "Hz. Süleyman Camii ve Sahabe Kabirleri." Accessed April 6, 2025. http://www.diyarbakir.gov.tr/hz-suleyman-camii-ve-sahabe-kabirleri

Author Information

Avatar
AuthorMehmet Tahir ÖzbeyDecember 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM

Tags

Discussions

No Discussion Added Yet

Start discussion for "Süleymaniye Camii" article

View Discussions

Contents

  • Location and Historical Significance

  • Architectural Features

  • Renovations and Additions

  • Current Condition

Ask to Küre