Sinan, who was 60 years old at the commencement date, returned to the two semi-domed plan in Suleymaniye mosque for the first time, and has developed this trial in the Beyazit Mosque which was built between 1501 and 1506. Inspecting the thousand year old Hagia Sophia which was admired in all eras, he endeavored to capture the architectural ratios which appealed to the period in indoors and outdoor appearances, and considered the indoors and outdoors as a whole for Suleymaniye Mosque. For this reason, the external appearance reflects the structure of the interior environment with all details. The mosque is an important materpiece which exhibits the classical Ottoman style and art techniques with the best practices through its architecture and it is an important milestone in the develeopment of Ottoman mosques thanks to its large domed design. The dome of Suleymaniye mosque is the highest ( 48,23 m) of Ottoman mosques and the second largest one in Istanbul in diameter ( 26, 30 m) following Hagia Sophia.
The Arches which hold the main dome are carried by four large elephant feet. Having the size which can cover the area of a small mosque, these pillars have been constructed skillfully to look elegant, and their front and back sides have been decorated with figures of Mihrab.
Mosque Courtyard: This 19-decare courtyard which enables the mosque to bee seen in appropriate angles and which separates its three sides from other buildings has been described by Evliya Celebi as " large enough to ride horses".
Court of Porch ( Fountain Couryard) : The foor of the court of porch is marbled and the surrounding area of the court is covered with 28 domes. The inner court is accessed by three separet doorways. In the middle of this part where the main entrance of the mosque is placed, there is a water gauge which looks like Kaaba.
Narthex: The domes which are adjacent to the southeastern front of the mosque have been designed as the nartex. 548 pieces of china have been brought from * nik for the fixed Quran verse plates on the windows. Evliya Celebi has stated that the iron window screens of the courtyard have been made with superb mastery and that the dates of important events, fires and earthquakes had been inscribed on the bronze collars of the courtyard pillars.
Gathering Places: Gathering places ( sections surrounded by wooden or iron railings) have been supported by one pillar on each side and two pillars in the middle, between the large pillars. Forming empty spaces in the flank fronts of the mosque by running over the walls., the gathering places make two storey balconies. Lower balconies ahve nice 9 arches, and the upper balconies have sixteen arches.
Minarets: The mosque has four minarets which have been designed in accordance with its gradeur.These are separeted into two groups as " Mosque Minarets" and " Harem Minarets". The style incorporating the minarets into the mosque has a particular importance with regard to the architectural order of the era. The bedplates of the high mosque minarets with three minaret balconies, which are attached to the main mass of the mosque on the corners have been regarded as corner supports, and thus, have been built in the shape of rectangular prisms, In various sources, it is mentioned that four minarets rising from the corners of the courtyard have been dedicated to the four caliphs, and the ten balconies on the minarets have been dedicated to the ten great Muslims to whom it was announced by Prophet Mohammed that they would go to the heaven.That there are ten balconies which have been buit on the four minarets, which are completely made of stone, is widely-accepted public hearsay which is explained by the fact that Sultan Suleyman is the tenth Ottoman ruler and the fourth emperor to have ascended to the throne after the conquest of Istanbul.
