This mosque was ordered by Safiye Sultan, who was the wife of Sultan Murad III. Construction began in 1597, but due to political troubles construction stopped halfway. The partially constructed structure fell into ruins and was largely destroyed by a fire in 1660. Later that year, the imperial architect Mustafa Ağa suggested that Valide Turhan Hadice, mother of Sultan Mehmet IV, should complete the project as a work of piety. The mosque was finally finished in 1663. Today it is one of the most well-known mosques in the city.
The interior of the mosque has great examples of Ottoman tile work, known as İznik tiles (blue tiles that bear the name of the town from where they are made) – but, the best samples of İznik tiles can be seen in Rüstem Pasha.