The mosque had been commissioned in 1558 by Selim II while he was still a şehzade (prince). Although the mosque was constructed while Mimar Sinan held the post of chief architect, the building is not listed in any of his autobiographies. In Konya Sinan only lists the renovation of a hospice. The construction was completed in 1570 after Selim became the sultan. Later it was repaired three times; in 1685, 1816 and 1914.