Courtyard with a sadirvan, Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Edinerkapi
The Quran requires that Muslims purify themselves prior to prayer, a ritual known as wudu, by washing with water their faces, arms, head and feet. Thus a mosque is typically accompanied by an ablutions fountain (sadirvan) like this one in the courtyard of the Mihrimah Sultan mosque in Edirnekapi near the land walls of Istanbul. This mosque complex was originally built by Mimar Sinan in 1570, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, for his daughter Mihrimah. Like many structures in Istanbul, it has suffered damage by earthquake on several occasions over the years and has been restored; this courtyard was paved and this sadirvan restored in 2010. Ablution fountains are equipped with spigots with which worshipers can dispense water as needed, in front of which are stone stools to enable worshipers to sit as they perform their wudu before entering the mosque to pray.
