The Kadir Regiment in the Ottoman Empire

Kadir Gecesi is one of Islam’s most sacred nights. The term, which in dictionary meaning denotes “judgment, honor, dignity,” refers to the night on which the time of the one-ı Kerim began to be revealed. Although it is believed to occur during the last ten days of Ramadan, it is generally observed on the 27th night.

During the Ottoman period, great importance was attached to Kadir Gecesi, giving rise to rich folkloric practices across the empire’s territories, expressed through mosque decorations, ceremonies, and protocols specific to the night. Lanterns were used to adorn mosques from the tops of minarets down to the balconies; after the Tarawih prayers, lanterns were raised on the minarets; ropes suspended from kites were used to deliver various gifts to the public—all distinctive customs of this night.

One of the ceremonies held on this night was the Kadir Alayı. The imperial court and dignitaries, accompanied by their attendants, would depart from Topkapı Sarayı after iftar, proceeding in a grand procession to the Hagia Sophia Camii, where they would perform their prayers together. The routes of the procession were repaired and lined with lanterns, candles, and torches at intervals of two hundred paces. Seating arrangements were also established in suitable locations to allow the public to observe the ceremony. The return procession was similarly conducted with the sultan in attendance.

In the early period, Ayasofya Camii was the preferred destination, but later, depending on the sultan’s preference, other imperial mosques were also visited. While the exact origin of the Kadir Alayı remains uncertain, detailed records of celebrations from the 19th and 20th centuries are available.

If the month of Ramazan coincided with the spring season, the sultan and his court would first travel from their seaside palaces to Topkapı Palace. After iftar, they would proceed to mosques including Ayasofya Camii, Sultanahmet, Beyazıt, Fâtih, Süleymaniye, and Eyüpsultan. With the relocation of Ottoman sultans from Topkapı to their palaces in Beşiktaş during the 19th century, Kadir Gecesi ceremonies came to be held between the mosques of Kılıç Ali Paşa, Nusretiye, Dolmabahçe, Sinan Paşa, and Yıldız and the imperial residences.

During these ceremonies, the sultan would perform his prayer in the sultan’s loge. The Tarawih and Kadir prayers were recited by imams, each rak’ah performed in a different makam, while muezzins chanted Ramadan and Kadir Gecesi hymns with the refrain “elveda.”

^{(This image was generated by artificial intelligence)}

Ceremonies held particularly at Ayasofya Camii formed a unique tradition. Evliya Çelebi noted that during Kadir Gecesi, while reciting the Quran-ı Kerim from the muezzin’s gallery, he was heard by IV. Murad and thus received imperial favor. On Kadir Gecesi, Ayasofya Camii was completely filled by the public, with upper galleries reserved for foreign ambassadors and their spouses.

The Hicri 1278 issue of the Interpreter-ı Ahval newspaper reports that lanterns were decorated and festivities were held after the prayer. The Hicri 1280 edition of Tasvir-i Efkâr mentions the Kadir Gecesi prayer held at Cami-i Nusret and the accompanying procession.

“On the 27th Friday night of this blessed Ramazan, due to the recognition of Kadir Gecesi, lanterns and candles were elaborately decorated, the sultan made a ceremonial visit to Tophane-i Amire Camii, and festivities were held after the prayer.” (Tercüman-ı Ahval, Hicri 1278, Issue 163)^【1】

During the reign of II. Abdülhamid, fireworks displays were held in Yıldız Meydanı until the completion of the Tarawih prayer at Hamidiye Camii. Women and members of the harem, along with the sultan, participated in the Kadir Alayı aboard carriages assigned to them, watched the fireworks until the end of the prayer, and then embarked on a short Türkiye to observe the citywide festivities.

⁽Yıldız Camii, from Sultan Abdülhamid II’s Photograph Collection⁾

Ayşe Sultan, daughter of II. Abdülhamid, provides detailed accounts of these processions in her memoirs.

“The Kadir Gecesi procession was a grand affair. My father would take Gazi Osman Paşa into his carriage. After his death, Serasker Rıza Paşa would join him. Always accompanying them was Bermutad Burhaneddin Efendi. Before the prayer, we departed from the palace, with the Valide Sultan’s carriage leading, followed by the harem carriages, and lined up in the courtyard of Hamidiye Camii. Married sultans and their harem attendants also came. The area from the palace’s harem gate to the mosque was densely packed. In front of each harem carriage, two silver-plated leather lanterns were carried by two kavas. Fifteen Hademe-i Hümâyûn stood on either side of the sultan’s carriage holding these lanterns. Pashas and viziers wore full ceremonial uniforms. Soldiers arrived in greater numbers than usual. After the sultan entered the mosque, large loaves of bread with cheese and fine sherbets were distributed to all soldiers from the Kiler-i Hümâyûn. Fireworks were launched throughout the night in Yıldız Meydanı. As a child, I loved these fireworks. Just as at the selamlık, permission was granted to the soldiers near the end of the prayer, and they returned to their barracks playing their bands.”^【2】

Başmabeyinci Lütfü Lord provided a detailed description of the Kadir Gecesi procession during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. The sultan was saluted with cannon fire from various warships, boarded ten pairs of imperial barges to reach Tophane Rıhtımı, and walked from there to Nusretiye Camii. After the prayer, he proceeded to the kasra in Tophane Meydanı to watch fireworks and naval displays, then returned to the palace in the same ceremonial manner.

“The Kadir Gecesi procession was celebrated with great pomp. The sultan, greeted by cannon fire from various warships, boarded ten pairs of imperial barges and arrived at Tophane Rıhtımı. From there he walked to Nusretiye Camii. Leading the imperial barge were pilot boats, and alongside them, naval barges followed. After the prayer, the sultan honored the kasra in Tophane Meydanı (a small palace) and watched the fireworks and naval displays. He then returned to the palace in the same ceremonial fashion. Joyful cries and applause rose from all sides, echoing ‘May our sultan live long.’ Later we learned that Sultan Abdülmecid had also performed prayers on Kadir Gecesi in this manner. V. Mehmet, who deeply loved his father, thus revived his father’s customs and memories.”^【3】

Hızır İlyas Çelebi described the ceremonies during the journey to and from Ayasofya Camii on Kadir Gecesi; Balıkhâne Nazırı Ali Rıza Bey recounted the processions at Nusretiye Camii during the reigns of Sultan Abdülmecid and Abdülaziz; and Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil depicted the ceremonies conducted by imperial barges on the sea.