Every human being should practice his/her religion in peace. Therefore, followers to practice and interact with each other peacefully built their own places. Such as mosques for Muslims and Churches for Christians. Each soul has the total freedom to follow and believe in whatever religion that feels suitable to, but it’s also responsible for obeying and following the rules of the selected religion. In the past few weeks, Hagia Sophia was the story and the heading line of all news in Turkey. So why?
What is Hagia Sophia ?
Hagia Sophia is one of the most pioneering places for visitors. Hagia Sophia means divine wisdom. In the beginning, this place was a Church, many years later Constantinople turned it into a mosque. But the Russian used this mosque as a hospital for citizens. This means that Hagia Sophia has a long history all over the years.
In 1934, the Turkish government issued a decree to convert it into an art museum with the aim of dedicating it to humanity. Since then, the museum has become one of the most important tourist destinations in Istanbul, as last year alone, it received nearly four million visitors.
Based on historical documents confirming that Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror bought the “Hagia Sophia Church” building from priests before converting it into a mosque. This year the Turkish President, Erdogan, signed a decree to convert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Announcing that it’s open for Muslims to perform prayers, adding that his country had exercised its sovereign right to convert it into a mosque and would consider any criticism of this step an infringement of its sovereignty.
The design of hagia Sophia:
This is the interior design of Hagia Sophia. It contains many paintings on its walls, many pictures for presidents and directors, and the ground of the floors decorated related to Constantinople rule.
Its internal space appears to be an essential character. Hagia Sophia Mosque includes multiple destinations with paintings drawn from Christianity, including those depicting Adam and Hawa and decorating the eaves, which symbolize the founders of churches. Not only that but also it contains many parks that separated by a running tower. So that this mosque is a connecting link between Muslims and Christians.
Our great messenger told us that:
Do not undertake a journey to visit any Mosque, but three: This Mosque of mine, the Mosque of al-Haram, and the Mosque of Aqsa (Bait al-Maqdis).
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul:
To let you know, there is another building in Istanbul that carried the same name. Why? Well, building this mosque went through many periods. This allows people to call many places with the same name. The only persons who have a great role to turn this from church to the mosque are Ottomans. So that it is so normal when there are many places in different countries that have the same name. This means that this place is historic and had not been built within two days, two months, or two years, but it takes long years to hold the position as Hagia Sophia has got.
Hagia Sophia building:
Hagia Sophia was built in 537. The dome of this mosque was destroyed many times. But thanks to Ottoman Empire who built this dome and repairs this mosque many times. So that we can say, that the Ottoman Empire had a great role in establishing Hagia Sophia.
Hagia Sophia’s history:
When it was a suitable time to build the church of Sophia Hagia. The people at that time have many ideas on the art of buildings so that this Hagia Sophia represents the amazing ideal ideas at this time. They had improved thinking of constructions. In addition to that, the construction of this mosque indicated the progress of architecture at that time. It contains many halls, which connect with each other, and above, that, there is a huge and interesting dome at the top of this mosque.
Its huge dome is set up on four other domes under it. This art of building makes the inside design of this masque looks so interesting. In addition, there are special floors, which moves all the visitors from one place to another. This makes the ability to get into all the floors, stages and the sales of this mosque, become so simple. In addition to that, the people wanted to make, this mosque still all over the years. What do you think they had done? The Ottomans covered the interior of the mosque with lead because lead protects the mosque from the external factors of erosion that it may be exposed to throughout ages.
In addition, the great messenger (PBUH) asked us to build mosques and pray together. As ‘Aishah said: The Messenger of Allah commanded built mosque in (Ad-Dur) villages and to purified and perfumed.
To sum up, there is no doubt that all the places to worship Allah inside are so great. We have a long life of worshipping and praying for Allah. The great matter related to Hagia Sophia is that this is a church in the first years after building, but it turned into a mosque. This is the greatest matter related to Hagia Sophia. It is a great idea to donate by each money to any charities, which pay all these donations for the sake of…
