Situated on the plateau of the Dergâh, overlooking the sacred Pool of the Sacred Fish (Balıklıgöl complex) in Şanlıurfa Province, the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque functions not only as a place of worship but also as a significant pilgrimage site tied to the figure of Abraham and the deep-rooted memory of antiquity in the region. The architecture reflects multiple phases of building and re-building — from Seleucid temple to synagogue, to church, and finally to an Ottoman mosque. Its religious importance is amplified by the tradition that water flows from the cave next to the mosque, considered by local believers to possess curative properties, further enhancing the locus as one of sacred geography rather than merely a place of worship.

According to historical records and tradition, the present mosque incorporates earlier layers of religious architecture, including a pagan temple, synagogue, church and ultimately the Ottoman mosque built in 1523 CE (or there­abouts) under Ottoman authority.

The mosque is the most ancient of the mosques located in the city center of Urfa province. As the structure was an old synagogue, it was transformed into the St. Stephon Church by the Bishop Rabula whom had died between CE 435-436. And then finally; In 1523, a mosque was built by Muhammad Salih Pasha in the same area.

circa 1523 CE

The historical layering of Mevlid-i Halil is complex and reflects the succession of religious and political regimes in the region of Şanlıurfa (ancient Edessa). Prior to the Islamic era the site is held to have been a temple in the Seleucid period, followed by a synagogue in the Jewish period and then a church by early Christians. Sometime during the Byzantine Empire period, a church was built in the name of Mary, which was registered as the Virgin Mary Church. This church was named as the Scarlet Church because of the numerous scarlet colored pillars inside. It was abandoned sometime during the early eighth century CE.

The structure of the Byzantine period church was heavily restored and converted into a mosque during the reign of the Abbasid Caliph Me'mun (813-833 CE). This structure was demolished and a number of architectural features were later integrated in to the mosque structure built between 1170-1175 CE years by Nur al-Din Zengi.

The current mosque was built circa 1523 CE during the Ottoman administration under Muhammed Salih Pasha. The mosque underwent significant repair and renovation over the centuries: from an inscription noting repair by Muḥammad Mes’ûd in 1816 CE and his son Mahmut in 1852 CE, to additions of courtyard rooms by Ahmet Bican Pasha in 1855 and by Derviş Musa in 1887. The building was again restored in 1951 CE under the leadership of Sheikh Muslum Hafiz of Urfa and supported by the people. The most recent substantial restoration was done in the late twentieth century (1992/93 CE) when the mosque reopened for prayer after refurbishment.

The local tradition associates the cave adjoining the mosque with the birth of Abraham. According to legend, the infant Abraham was hidden in the cave for seven years to escape the King Nimrod’s order to kill male infants. This tradition has rendered the site not just an Ottoman mosque, but one embedded in a much older matrix of sacred storytelling and pilgrimage.

circa 1523 CE

The religious tradition associated with the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque centers on its identification as the site of the birth of Abraham — a figure revered in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian theology. The term “Mevlid” (birth) underscores that association. According to the narrative preserved in local tradition, Abraham’s mother took refuge in the cave adjacent to the mosque to give birth in hiding from King Nimrod’s decree; this tradition has been maintained in the mosque’s narrative and pilgrim experience. The belief that the water emerging from the cave has healing properties adds another dimension of devotion: pilgrims visit the site not only for congregational prayer but in hope of spiritual and physical benefit.

During the Ottoman period and later, the mosque became part of a complex of pilgrimage and local veneration in Şanlıurfa, integrating mosque ritual, Sufi lodge associations (including the Kadiri dhikr tradition), and the enduring memory of Abraham’s nativity. The convergence of Abrahamic tradition, local folklore and mosque architecture renders the site a distinctive convergence of sacred history, ritual geography, and living worship.

circa 1523 CE

Architecturally the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque exhibits a rectangular plan typical of Ottoman mosques built or converted in the sixteenth century, with additional features added in later centuries. The structure lies immediately adjacent to the cave traditionally believed to be Abraham’s birthplace; one of the walls at the mosque’s side effectively separates the cave and the prayer hall, and that wall has been adapted to support a small minaret. Two further minarets were later added at the south-east and north-west corners of the complex. The materials and decorative elements reflect the layered past of the site: ancient columns and scarlet-coloured pillars referenced in Turkish heritage archives are attributed to earlier Christian worship halls.

Inside, the monastery-mosque integration gives prominence to the cave chamber adjoining the main prayer hall; the small water flow issuing from this cave enhances the sense of continuity between subterranean sacred space and the mosque above. Local believers attribute the water’s curative qualities, linking architecture and ritual. The mosque’s courtyard and gate, added in 1947 CE, provide transitional space. While the details of domes, arches and decorative tilework are less documented than the historic layering, the building’s significance lies precisely in its adaptation and re-use of earlier sacred spaces rather than in novel architectural innovations.

circa 1523 CE

Main Prayer Hall
The Main Prayer Hall of the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque is a some-what rectangular, single-story space designed to accommodate congregational worship. The interior of the main prayer hall displays architectural and decorative elements typical of Ottoman and Turkish origins. The prayer hall is topped by a single large dome flanked by three smaller domes on each side.

circa 1523 CE

Cave of Ibrahim
The Cave of prophet Ibrahim is believed to be the place, where prophet Ibrahim was born.

The cave within the Mevlid-i Halil complex is a natural limestone cavity situated immediately adjacent to the mosque’s prayer hall, forming a discrete subterranean chamber. Its morphology is irregular, characterized by a gently sloping floor and a low, uneven ceiling that narrows toward the rear of the chamber, with the entrance bounded by natural rock. The interior walls exhibit evidence of natural erosional patterns typical of karstic limestone formations, including minor stalactitic development and surface pitting, while a small channel conveys water through the cave, creating localized damp areas and minor mineral deposits. Structural stability is maintained by the inherent strength of the surrounding limestone, although minor fissures are observable along the lateral walls and ceiling, and the chamber follows a roughly north-south axis with internal dimensions approximating a rectangular plan when viewed from above. Within this natural formation, minimal construction has been introduced to facilitate its functional use: a designated prayer area has been established, the traditional site of Abraham’s birth is enclosed within a glass encasement for preservation and veneration, and faucets have been installed to allow ritual ablutions, integrating the cave into broader human activity while retaining the integrity of its natural structure.

It is believed by the locals that the water coming out of the Mevlid-i Halil Cave is the most healing water after Zam Zam. According to the tradition his mother gave birth in a cave and hid the child there for seven years, because the evil king Nimrod wanted to kill all newborn males who could threaten his reign, topple him from his throne, and change the Pagan religion of the time.

circa 1523 CE

Pool of the Sacred Fish
The Pool of Sacred Fish, known locally as Balıklıgöl, is a rectangular water feature situated within the courtyard of the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque complex. Accrding to an Islamic tradition Nimrud threw prophet Ibrahim (biblical Abraham) in fire at this location. According to the local legend, when Nimrod flung Abraham into the fire, the fire became water and the firewood became the fish, which persist to this day.