Süleymaniye Camii

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)