The mosque is part of a larger religious complex, or külliye, acting as a centre of culture, religion, and education for the neighborhood.

[6][8][3] It helped reshape the city of Istanbul by announcing this new imperial style and marking a definitive shift away from Classical Ottoman architecture.

[10] By the 18th century, this mosque had fallen into disrepair and the local residents had already petitioned Sultan Ahmed III to renovate it, but to no avail.

When a new petition was sent to Mahmud I, the sultan appointed an official to investigate and it was ascertained that the mosque's waqf (endowment) was no longer generating income.

[12] In his account, Efendi adds a story in which Mahmud I, while visiting the construction site, came across a "blessed sage" or spiritual old man.

The sage praised him for building the mosque and bringing joy to the neighbourhood, and prayed for God to reward the sultan, thus encouraging Mahmud I to continue the project.

[12][13] Although Efendi's account has a panegyric style, it suggests that the sultan and his entourage viewed the mosque's construction as the fulfilment of divine providence and that a certain religious aura was promoted around the project.

Although several of them, including Efendi, praised the size of the dome, they do not make any clear comments about the building's novel architectural style.

From the outside, the dome sits above four huge arches (one for each side of the square) pierced with many windows that provide light to the interior.

The closest precedent to this design in Classical Ottoman architecture is the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in the Edirnekapi neighbourhood of Istanbul.

[28] The hood of the mihrab, like the semi-vaults above the exterior doorways, is carved with a mix of eclectic friezes that replace the traditional muqarnas.

[30][31] The prayer hall is also lined with golden Qur'anic calligraphy and has medallions with name of Allah and Muhammad on the pendentives of the dome.

An indoor ramp near the precinct's eastern entrance climbs up to a private lounge and reception area (selamlık).

[32] It is not certain who the tomb was originally intended for, but it was used to house the remains of Shehsuvar Sultan, mother of Osman III, who died in 1756.

[7] On the south side of the complex is the madrasa (Islamic college) and the imaret (public soup kitchen), which form one building with two sections.

The madrasa occupies the eastern section and consists of a square courtyard surrounded by an arcaded portico and domed rooms, a fairly traditional layout.

Being such a prosperous and commercially active area, the Sultan knew it would be a convenient location for Muslims to attend prayer.

The leaking domes were resealed with a close-to-original lead coating and applied in traditional fashion, the drainage systems were cleared of rubble and revamped, and the basements were renovated.