Description
Şakirin Mosque (pronounced Sha-keen) is a mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. The building is situated at one of the entrances to the historical Karacaahmet Cemetery in the Üsküdar district. It was constructed by the Şakirin Foundation in honor of İbrahim Şakir and Şemiha Şakir, and it was inaugurated on May 7, 2009. According to newspaper reports, it is considered Turkey's most environmentally friendly mosque in terms of carbon neutrality.
History: The mosque's architect was Kürşad Taylor, known for his work on the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara and his expertise in architectural restoration. The interior decor designer was Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, the niece of Şakirin's founder, Şemiha Şakir. According to reports, she was the first interior designer of a mosque and the first woman to design a mosque in modern Turkey.
The construction of the mosque took four years, covering an area of 10,000 square meters. It has two minarets, each 35 meters high, and a dome made of composite aluminum. The decorative motifs are inspired by Seljuk art, and the large chandelier contains glass balls shaped like water droplets, symbolizing the prayer for Allah's light to fall on worshipers like rain. The mosque was built over an underground car park and also features an exhibition area. The mosque's architect is considered the first woman to design a mosque in the modern era.
