Malik M Aslam Awan
AFTER eighty-six years Istanbul witnessed sounds of the sacred name of Allah, the omniscient, the omnipresent, the omnipotent, echoing from the minarets of Hagia Sophia. The sound of Azan from Hagia Sophia has awakened the Muslims all over the world from the somniferous slumber. The greatness of Usmania state has again got resurrection and the hearts of Muslims all over the world are filled with unseen vibrant happiness. After 86 years the mosque regained its original status and echoed with the sound of Azan, sparking the hearts of Turkish Muslims as well as the Muslim community all over the world. After the World War-I Muslims of India made hectic efforts to maintain the unity of great Usmania State. But the great Britain dismembered the unity of the great state into several parts. Sultan Muhammad Fateh conquered Constantinople and purchased the church from his own sources from the Bazentines and turned the church into mosque. During the reign of Usmania caliphate (1453-1931) the mosque remained sounded with Adhans and served as centre of Muslim religious rituals and prayers till five hundred years. The mosque witnessed the prayers without any intermittent. Fourteen days ago the apex court of Turkey announced the verdict to change the Museum into mosque and with the announcement of verdict the eyes of Muslims all over Turkey witnessed memorable event, for Friday prayer the mosque was filled inch by inch and due to scarcity of space, the mammoth gathering of people had to offer their Friday prayer outside, in the outskirts of Mosque.
The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself recited the verses of Holy Quran, every eye present there had drops of countless pleasures in their hearts, to bow before the Creator of the universe and say thanks to God Almighty, whose benevolence provided the Muslims opportunity to see a grand union of Muslims, gathered in the mosque to offer prayer. It seemed that all the residents of Istanbul have rushed to Hagia Sophia to see the momentous event and offer their Friday prayer, which would be remembered in Turkey till centuries and Recep Tayyip Erdogan name as a symbol of renaissance of Islam after five centuries. The memorable day reminded the greatness of Usmanic state and its glorious days of 500 years. Going back to history one would find Hagia Sophia remained a catholic and greek church in different ages, it was constructed in 537 AD. Mustafa Kamal Pasha turned the mosque into museum in 1934. The irrational decision, caused ripples in the religious sentiments of the Muslims. It is strange to note that the pioneer of the revolution of Turkey and the father of Turkey Mustafa Kamal Pasha, never cared, how much agony, his decision, will create in the ranks of the Muslims.
USA, European Union and many other countries expressed their anguish and depression over the decision. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected all the criticism of USA, Eropean Union and other nations, and declared the criticism as an attack over the Turkish sovereignty. He is adequately articulate to declare that it is the internal matter of Turkey and the propaganda regarding the decision is unwarranted, shorn of logic and historical evidence. Some critics, who pose themselves as liberal Muslims expound their own theory that in Islam, the state is bound to safeguard the religious places of minorities. No doubt to safeguard the religious places of minorities is one of the most cardinal features of Islamic state but here the case is different, Hagia Sophia was purchased by Sultan Muhammad Fateh and turned the church into mosque, the Christians of that age raised no hue and cry about this sale-purchase deed, which remained a mosque for nearly five centuries and later on in 1934, the first head of state Mustafa Kamal Pasha turned the mosque into a museum, it was an irrational step, which crated grave concern amongst the Muslims of the world. It is very depressing to note that after the World War-I, under the British alliance it was decided, ensured and declared that the unity of Usmania caliphate will be honoured and preserved but afterwards, the great Usmania Khaliphate faced merciless segregation at the hands of the same British alliance.
The British alliance itself violated its own pledge. The Usmania Caliphate remained a centre of the religious sentiments of Muslims all over the world and they had unflinching belief that Usmania Caliphate is the symbol of Muslim unity all over the world. The incarnation of the verdict of the Turkish apex court, Council of State, opened a flood-gate of criticism over the issue. Recep Tayyip Erdogan retorted with cogent arguments and declared that it is the internal matter of Turkey. Besides other aspects of the issue it is noteworthy that Hagia Sophia has been turned from Museum into Mosque, which is exclusively the internal matter of Turkey. Following the principal features of Islam Turkey has turned a Museum into mosque not a serving, religious institution of worship of any minority into mosque. USA, European Union or any other country or Bishops of churches have no right to criticize the transformation of a museum into a mosque.
—The writer is a freelance columnist and independent analyst based in Lahore.
