Islam is the only valid religion in the eyes of God and is the last and most perfect religion sent to mankind through our last prophet Muhammad. Islamic civilization has evolved within the framework of ideas, scholarship and art based on the Islamic value system deriving from God’s book, the Koran, and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. Over the centuries this civilization has produced institutions that have had worldwide influence and a magnificent historical legacy.

As home to the Seljuk and Ottoman states for more than a thousand years, Turkey is rich in works of art and architecture created by ancient Islamic civilisation. Today, outstanding examples of Islamic architecture can be found in every corner of the country, where institutions born of the Turkish-Islamic experience enabled Islamic civilisation to take root here. Cultural and artworks created over the centuries have survived as the Ottoman legacy in Istanbul, especially in many other Turkish cities.

As well as being places open to the public, Turkey’s museum depots contain thousands of objects belonging to Islamic civilisation that are 11 waiting to be displayed to local and foreign visitors. The Museum of Islamic Civilisations project was inspired by the idea of making this immense legacy of Islamic objects available to the general public using modern museum technology.

The Museum of Islamic Civilisations is part of the complex of Büyük Çamlıca Mosque, which opened as Istanbul and Turkey’s largest mosque in 2019. With its modern architecture and richly diverse collections, the museum presents visitors with a historical legacy of vast scope. Digital presentations are designed to enable every visitor to the museum to experience a sense of history and through interactive displays gain deeper insight into Islamic civilisation than can be attained only by looking at historical artefacts.

More than 500 artefacts have been carefully selected from six of Turkey’s leading museums -Topkapı Palace Museum, the Palace Collections Museum, Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Istanbul Tombs Museum, Museum of Wakfs and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art- to exhibit at the Museum of Islamic Civilisations, and these have been arranged in 15 thematic sections.

In the first section of the museum are artefacts belonging to the Kaaba, our first place of worship, and others dating from the early period of Islam, from the time of the Prophet Muhammad onwards. Next, come sections devoted to scientific and technical objects produced by Islamic civilisation and examples of Islamic architecture, and a special section dedicated to the Koran, featuring Korans produced at different periods in the Islamic world, each of which is a work of art. Documents selected from the Damascus Documents, which are the earliest examples of Islamic art are displayed in another section. Coins used in diverse Islamic countries over history and a collection of weapons used in Muslim conquests can also be seen.

Cases made for the Holy Relics, principally during the Ottoman era, are expressions of love for the Prophet Muhammad; while kaftans and talismanic shirts demonstrate different aspects of Islamic civilisation. Masterpieces of calligraphy, illumination and marbling, which are among the most important of Islamic traditional arts are exhibited in the calligraphy section. This is followed by the sections devoted to the museum’s collections of ceramic tiles, edicts issued by the sultans, and Turkish textiles.

Sectıons Of The Museum Of Islamıc Cıvılısatıons

1. The Turkısh Art Of Weavıng 
2. Objects Attrıbuted To The Prophet Muhammad
3. Archıtectural And Decoratıve Elements In Islamıc Art
4. The Kaaba, The Fırst Place Of Worshıp
5. The Damascus Documents
6. Korans And Koran Cases
7. Scıence In Islam
8. Berats And Fırmans
9. Callıgraphy
10. Talısmanıc Shırts
11. Ottoman Costume
12.Handkerchıefs And Cenotaph Covers. 
13 Conquest In Islam
14 Turkısh Tıles
15 Islamıc Coıns

• Museum Card is valid in the palaces, kiosks, pavillions,museums, historical factories affiliated to the Presidency of National Palaces with the exceptions below:
  • Museum Card is not valid in Topkapı Palace Harem and Hagia Irene sections, Dolmabahçe Selamlık section, Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum, Küçüksu Pavillion Picnic area.
  • Discounted Selamlık ticket service is offered for the local Museum Card holders who want to visit the Selamlık section of Dolmabahçe Palace.
• Discounted Selamlık ticket service is offered for the local Museum Card holders who want to visit the Selamlık section of Dolmabahçe Palace.
  • Topkapı Palace Combined Tickets are valid for 1 day from the date of purchase.
  • Dolmabahçe Palace Combined Tickets are valid for 1 month from the date of purchase. This period is valid for use in different places. The same place can be visited once only in that month.
• Palaces, Kiosks, Pavillions, Museums and Historical Factories are free for domestic- foreign visitors aged 0-6.
• Discounted ticket service is offered for the students between the ages of 07-25 who present their student ID card.
  • Topkapı Palace is free for TR and TRNC citizens under the age of 18. Discounted ticket service is offered at Topkapı Palace for TR and TRNC citizens between 18-25 years. (25 Included)
  • Foreign students pay twice the price of the discounted ticket.
  • Foreign students aged 12-25 are requested to present their International Student Identity Card (ISIC: International Student Identity Card) concretely.
• National Palaces Glass and Crystal Museum is free for domestic-foreign visitors under the age of 12.
• 20% Discount is applied to the tour companies that bring 20 or more visitors to the palaces, kiosks, pavillions,museums, historical factories affiliated to the Presidency of National Palaces.
• Thematic Tours are held with 3 or more full fare ticket.