Nizamiye Masjid (), often called the Nizamiye Mosque, is a

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

situated in the city of Midrand, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It is often stated to be the biggest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere, occupying less than two-thirds of a hectare in a 10 hectares of land. The plans for the mosque were originally designed in

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

, but a South African architect adapted the design to South African building standards. Construction began in October 2009 and was completed in 2012.

Origin

Ali Katırcıoğlu, a Turkish businessman, planned to build Ottoman-styled architecture in places where it was absent. Failing to acquire a suitable location in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, the project was moved to South Africa. This move was advised by Fethullah Gulen. Work began on the project on 1 October 2009, and it was officially inaugurated by the South African President

Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...

on 4 October 2012. The name of the mosque was inspired by the 11th century Nizamiye Madrasahs, a higher education institution system used in

Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...

and other parts of the

Islamic world The terms Muslim world and Islamic world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is practiced. In ...

Complex

The Nizamiye Complex ( tr, Nizamiye Külliyesi) has several institutions besides the mosque and serves as a community center with its several halls and facilities.

The mosque

Construction on the mosque began in October 2009 and was completed in 2012. The basic plan of the mosque was adopted from the 16th-century Ottoman Selimiye Mosque. This mosque, located in Edirne,

, was designed by

Mimar Sinan Mimar Sinan ( ota, معمار سينان, translit=Mi'mâr Sinân, , ) ( 1488–1490 – 17 July 1588) also known as Koca Mi'mâr Sinân Âğâ, ("Sinan Agha (title), Agha the Grand Architect" or "Grand Sinan") was the chief Ottoman Empir ...

. Nizamiye Masjid was scaled to the Selimiye Mosque by a ratio of 80%. The plans for the mosque were designed in Turkey and adapted by a South African architect to South African building standards. The mosque has a main

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

that is high and wide that is covered in 48 tons of

lead Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...

. There are an additional 4 half domes and 21 smaller domes. Inside the mosque are authentic Turkish ceramics on the walls and

calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

on the ceiling. The dome is patterned with Turkish art and the custom-made carpet below is a reflection of it. There are 4

minaret A minaret (; ar, منارة, translit=manāra, or ar, مِئْذَنة, translit=miʾḏana, links=no; tr, minare; fa, گل‌دسته, translit=goldaste) is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generall ...

s that are high, which have stairs that go up to three platforms. There are 232

stained glass Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...

windows. Up to 6,000 people can be accommodated per service within the facilities of the central prayer hall for men and the prayer gallery for women. There are five

wudhu Wuḍūʾ ( ar, الوضوء ' ) is the Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body, a type of ritual purification, or ablution. The 4 Fardh (Mandatory) acts of ''Wudu'' consists of washing the face, arms, then wiping the head and the feet ...

facilities in one of the courtyards. On special occasions, the mosque is lit up in luminescent green and purple at night.

Schools

Nizamiye School was opened in January 2012 and can accommodate up to 850 pupils. The school's curriculum offers Islamic studies which are incorporated in the South African secular education syllabus."Nizamiye School: About Us page"
/ref> The classes are given in English but Arabic and Turkish are also taught. The school is open to the general public, but advises that scholars observe Islam due to its curriculum. A renowned educator, Isakh Turan, has been appointed as the school's principal. The school has boarding facilities for around 300 boys.

Clinic

Nizamiye Clinic offers health care services in 10 different areas for those without the need for an overnight stay. It is open to the general public. Ali Katircioglu, financier of the Nizamiye complex, added the clinic to the property on the request of

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

Market

The ''bazaar'' section of the complex has 11 shops, whose revenue is used in part for expenses of the mosque.

College

Nizamiye College ( tr, Nizamiye Medresesi) will be a home of Islamic higher education. Currently, the facilities are under construction.

Cemetery

Nizamiye Cemetery is a private cemetery governed by the complex foundation. It is situated at a corner of the mosque, which can be viewed from inside. The remains of Mehmet Remzi Efendi (a decorated Ottoman Turkish diplomat appointed to the Ottoman Embassy in South Africa in April 1914 and died under British arrest in 1916) was moved to the cemetery and became the first person to be buried there.

References

External links

Nizamiye Complex Official WebsiteNizamiye Masjid on Panoramio
{{Greater Johannesburg, religion 2012 establishments in South Africa Mosques in South Africa Islamic schools in Africa Religious buildings and structures in Johannesburg Tourist attractions in South Africa 21st-century mosques Mosques completed in 2012 Turkish South African