The conversion of world’s great and unique architectural wonder, “HAGIA SOPHIA” into a Mosque definitely agitates the hearts of peace-loving humanity. Truly, it has imbalanced the religious sentiments of all people.  In the present world when all people irrespective of their colour, creed, religion, politics and culture are joining their heart and mind together to eradicate the common enemy, Covid-19 for the well-being of entire humanity, the conversion of world’s this unique antique monument only for the one sect of human race breaks the unity and faith that humanity together shared for each other. This transition hurting the peace of the world should be reconsidered.

 
The Covenant of Prophet Muhammad with the Monks of Mount Sinai, also called the Ashtiname of Muhammad.  A copy of this document is kept at the Saint Catherine’s Monastery.

—–

The meaning of the word “Hagia Sophia” is ‘Holy Wisdom’.  In the Holy Scriptures, both in the Holy Bible and in the Holy Quran, it is written that Allah has created this entire world out of Allah’s wisdom. In this wisdom, Allah has envisaged the pure spirit of unity in diversity. In this created world, Allah has made sure that all kinds of life shall live together. This is peace. Accepting this difference and sharing in this difference maintain the peace of every living being. Yes, it is time to accept this world order in the name of ‘HAGIA SOPHIA- the divine wisdom”.

Human history ever tells the story of mighty people but accepted and respected only those people, in their heart, who practiced the wisdom of peace, love and compassion for all. When the power rules the world, it is peace and harmony that the hearts ever long for existence.

 
From the very inception of “Hagia Sophia”, the history has observed a series of power struggle upon this aesthetic wonder. It has always been looked as the pride of faithful communities who ruled over the nation.

Hagia Sophia was built at Constantinople, the present Istanbul, Turkey, in the 6th century under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian 1. It was the cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for more than a millennium.  In 1204, it was looted by the Venetians and the Crusaders on the Fourth Crusade. In 1453, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed II conquered this Byzantine architecture and converted it into a mosque. In 1934 Turkish President and the father of modern Turkish Republic, Kemal Ataturk having realized its religious, political, aesthetic and cultural heritage, elevated this feel of human spirit, Hagia Sophia into a museum. Thus, the then President respected the sentiments of every minds and hearts both by building peace among humanity and uplifting human fraternity. On the 10 of July this monument of human fraternity was shaken by the decision of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan when he altered this into a mosque.  We observe here that in its 1,450-year life span, HAGIA SOPHIA has served as a cathedral, mosque, a museum and now again as a mosque.

 
The Hagia Sophia is an enormous architectural marvel in Istanbul, Turkey

——

In all these power struggles, the predominant feel one gets from the history of ‘Hagia Sophia’ is both the religious and the political egoism in the name of Great Allah. The spirit of wisdom of God is least cared about here. We experience an exception in this case at the time of the President Kemal Ataturk. All the Christians believe that God is Love and all the Muslims believe that Allah is compassionate. These two aspects are two sides of ONE GOD. Without love there cannot be compassion and without Compassion, love is not love at all. Love and compassion is incomplete, if it is limited to only one sect of people. This type of expression of sectarian love and compassion can never be of divine wisdom. I understand that if we want to be faithful to this divine wisdom, we must have an inclusive platform for their faith expression and where people of these different religious communities do experience a brotherly love for each other and do their worship here. This is divine wisdom.

It is not enough converting an aesthetic structure having different heritages of centuries into a museum. Yes, it can be considered as a great step towards peace and harmony. This building is the amalgamation of different faith expressions and art.  Maintaining this monument merely as a museum doesn’t bring justice to the peace and harmony of people. It is a passive state where all the egoism of the people are buried but not purified. When the museum is again converted into a mosque, this suppressed egoism is hurt and escalated as pain for all. Can we say again that converting this mosque again to museum is the only solution for peace? Never.

The only solution for the peace and harmony of all the people and believers concerned of HAGIA SOPHIA is to elevate this monument into a common platform for inter- cultural-religious- centre of active faith expression. In this new ambience, humanity in general and religions in particular live in peace by caring all and by exchanging both love and respect for all. Thus ‘Hagia Sophia, the Divine Wisdom’ shall be respected in its true spirit and letter.  It will remain forever an actively living monument of peace and harmony among humanity. When our common house, the earth permits us and gives us all the facilities to worship that transcendental God in different names and forms according to different cultural and social context, don’t we have to learn from this wisdom, the divine wisdom? May “Hagia Sophia” encompass both the Christian and Islam believers in its bosom and may the humanity is able to vibrate and participate with this divine wisdom as dear children holding all Christian and Islam believers together.

Courtesy: https://www.newageislam.com/

The post Convert Hagia Sophia As the Inter- Religious Faith Centre of Peace and Harmony appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Reacting to the decision of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia being converted into a mosque, Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawky Allam on Saturday said that conversion was impermissible in Islam, Ahval News reported.

During an interview with Nathrah on Sada al-Balad TV, Grand Mufti Shawky Allam said, “We [as Muslims] are commanded to preserve churches […] Prophet Mohammed (peace and Blessings be upon him) was always recommending in wars not to destroy temples or kill monks.”

Ahval News added that the Grand Mufti said that churches and mosques around the world must be preserved as was done during the course of Egypt’s history, while referring to a fatwa by Laith bin Saad Fakih of Egypt who ruled churches to be a part of the earth’s architecture in Islam.

Professor Saad el-Din Helaly of the Al-Azhar University too said that the announcement by the “Muslim Brotherhood government of Turkey” was an “escalation against human civilization” and harmed Muslims and Islam, reported Cleveland Jewish News. He added that the decision was the nature of political Islam, saying that Hagia Sophia should remain a museum and calling for honorable Muslims to boycott the Friday prayers at Hagia Sophia out of respect for the property of others and property of the people.

Greece too has joined the global outrage against the decision saying that the move is provocative and a grave historic mistake, VOA News reported. Greek leaders think that the decision is an affront to Christianity and the country is now trying to rally international support to impose sanctions on Erdogan and his government.

It must be noted that Erdogan’s decision is in line with his right-wing political ideology and a part of a previous plan. The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque was on Erdogan’s mind as a part of his election manifesto last year.

The move does nothing for the people and only deepens the divide between Turkey’s nationalist and secular groups. In fact, it only pushes Erdogan’s nationalist agenda and will be lauded by his religious voter base for which the push was in fact made.

The current scenario in Turkey is reminiscent and close to what is happening in India. The Amnesty International on June 30, 2020 had reported that Amnesty International Turkey’s honorary chair Taner Kilic was in the dock together with the German human rights trainer Peter Steudtner, the former director of Amnesty International Turkey Idil Eser and eight other human rights defenders even while Turkey was wooing German tourists to visit. NBC News too reported how the Turkish government was disinclined to criticism and was launching investigations in Opposition leaders, sacking elected mayors and imprisoning journalists even though there was a bill passed to release inmates during the coronavirus pandemic.

Erdogan’s response to the May 2013 Gezi park protests against the conservative government which brought liberals, Kurds, women, etc. to the streets was to respond with water cannons and tear gas. Erdogan had then described the protestors as ‘terrorists’ and launched a crackdown on artists and academic intellectuals. While some were put behind bars, some managed to leave the country and move away, forming stark comparisons to the current treatment of dissenters in India.  

Outlook reported that Turkey, since 2015 has been bombing the homes of ethnic minorities’ Kurdish villages in northern Iraq, northeast Syria and carrying out military operations in the Kurdish stronghold of southeast Turkey, where thousands have died.

Erdogan’s decision of converting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque is seen as a last resort, to evoke ‘Muslim pride’ and a form of vindication to the oppression they suffer throughout the world. This ‘restroying’ of religious monuments paint parallels of what is happening in India and Turkey and only portray how secularism has only dwindled as the democratic age of the two countries has increased.

Thus, it is imperative that dissenting voices against the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque be brought to the fore, to counter extremist ideas of religion to make hold in democratic civilizations today.

Related:

Zakir Naik Showcases the Rot within Islamic Theology
A Nationalist Takeover of Hagia Sophia is not What the Muslim World Needed Now
Turkey: Hagia Sophia should not be converted to a Mosque  

The post Grand Mufti of Egypt opposes Hagia Sophia’s conversion into a mosque appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Covenant of Prophet Muhammad with the Monks of Mount Sinai, also called the Ashtiname of Muhammad.  A copy of this document is kept at the Saint Catherine’s Monastery.

—–

In most of such cases, judicial decisions are in fact political in nature. There was a growing campaign in Turkey to convert the museum into a mosque, with repeated polls showing overwhelming support for such a move. Erdogan, the Turkish president, heads a party, one of whose important aims is to re-Islamize Turkish society. Hagia Sophia had become a symbol of this desire and the ruling party had cultivated this sentiment amongst the people for long. Any argument against the move meant going against the popular mood of the people. It is no surprise that the main opposition parties did nothing to mobilise a counter opinion.

In all probability, this move will further boost the popularity of Erdogan within Turkey, but internationally, Muslims will face renewed questioning over the nature of their faith. One of the first to be questioned will be Muslim minorities throughout the world. In Europe and in parts of Asia, Muslims have been petitioning various governments for securing their religious rights. What Turkey has done will make their situation difficult in terms of positioning their argument. Recently, Muslims were elated when they heard the azan for the first time from mosques across Germany. The three million Turkish minority in Germany will now have tough time to explain this symbolic action to the German people. At a time when Islamophobia is on the rise in Europe and elsewhere, this action will be exploited by far-right parties to further stigmatise Muslims.
 

The Hagia Sophia is an enormous architectural marvel in Istanbul, Turkey

——

Christians who follow the Eastern Orthodox Church will be most hurt by this decision. For centuries, the Hagia Sophia has been the symbol of their devotion and pride. It is important to realise that there are Christian minorities living in different parts of the Middle-East. With the rise of radical Islam, there position has become precarious. Hundreds of them have already been killed, many dispossessed of their homes. At a time when they need re-assurance regarding their safety and security, this move by Turkish government will have the opposite impact of making their position all the more vulnerable.

The USA and Russia, along with other countries have already denounced the move and have asked Turkey to learn from the shared values of Islam and Christianity. However, it is time that their hypocrisy is called out. If they really believed in the philosophy of shared values, then Spain should ideally allow prayers in the mosque of Cordoba which is now a Cathedral. And Greece should apologise to the Muslim world for demolishing mosques built by the Ottomans. More importantly, recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which much of the western world did recently, is hardly a strategy rooted in mutual respect and sharing between the two religions. The Christian world seems to remember religious tolerance and pluralism only when their sacred monuments come under threat.

The real impact of this move will be felt by Muslims themselves. Due to a number of reasons, Islam has earned a bad name through its association with terrorism, intolerance and anti-pluralistic theology. What signal is Erdogan sending to jihadis and other radicals who want to convert and control the whole world? Today, they must be the most vocal supporters of Erdogan. This highly symbolic move reeks of Islamist supremacy which Muslims, especially those who are in minority, will find hard to justify. Erdogan might argue that the issue is one of Turkish sovereignty, but even he knows fully well that its reverberations will be felt beyond national boundaries.

Erdogan had a choice to let Hagia Sophia be as it is, a museum of international importance which was accessible to members of all religious faith. Or, the same space could have been used for both Islamic and Christian practices with some creative solutions. After all, Muslims also have strong claim to the site since they have prayed there for almost five hundred years and their religious sentiment should also be taken into consideration. Many would say that this is utopic, but then if both religions pray to the same God, then why is it that they cannot share the same ritual space?

In the early years of Islam, caliph Umar refused to pray at the Christian site of Holy Sepulchre after the bloodless conquest of Jerusalem, stating that it might become a precedent for later Muslims to convert Churches into mosques. A few centuries later, the Ayyubids would build a mosque where Umar had prayed, just a short distance from Christianity’s holiest church, thus making the fears of the caliph almost prophetic. Even earlier, the prophet of Islam had granted safety and security to monks of Mount Sinai, stating in no uncertain terms that the holy places of Christians must be protected. Muhammad’s Testament of assurance is still preserved within the four walls of Saint Catherine’s monastery. Erdogan could have looked to these traditions within Islam and made tolerance and co-existence the present credo of Islam. In choosing the obverse, he has made the claims of Islamic pluralism sound hollow.

Arshad Alam is a NewAgeIslam.com columnist.

The post A Nationalist Takeover of Hagia Sophia is not What the Muslim World Needed Now appeared first on SabrangIndia.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is considering converting the Hagia Sophia to a Mosque, which has been a museum since its conquest. As Muslims, we appeal to President Erdogan to keep it as a Museum, and not convert it to a Mosque.  

“Hagia Sophia was one of the largest Christian Cathedral in the Eastern Roman Empire for 1000 years, and is one of the most contested buildings and is creating controversy again,” reported Aljazeera. Indeed, it will create animosity between Islam and Christianity.  

The idea of converting Hagia Sofia to a mosque offers a short-term political gain, but at the cost of long-term harmony between Muslims and Christians.  

The role of Muslims is to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill – a formula embedded in Prophet’s actions; he was a blessed peacemaker. Islam means peace, and it behooves us to achieve peace and harmony through our actions and words. 

The Greek Orthodox Church mourns the loss of their Church to Muslim conquest; however, they have accepted it. If this is converted to a mosque, it amounts to rubbing salt on the wounds. It will rekindle hostilities that none of us want. Today, societies are moving towards respecting the otherness of others.  

Hazrat Umar set a great example – after conquering Jerusalem, he was offered to pray in the Holy Sepulcher. He chose not to pray inside the church for the concern that the future generation of Muslims will convert it into a Mosque.  

Quran 22:40 essentially says God’s name is extolled abundantly in Churches, Synagogues, and Mosques. We have to protect the places of Worship. God will most certainly assist him who succors His cause: verily, God is all-knowing and almighty. 

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has paved the way for building bridges among different communities in the United States. It is the largest Muslim civic body in America. It maintains good relationships with all populations, including the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. ISNA has played Amin’s role in building a cohesive America and has earned the goodwill of Jews, Christians, Hindus, and others. Out of a sense of righteousness, they have stood up for Muslims against Islamophobic rhetoric during 9/11, and it continues today. We, the Muslims, appreciate them.  

 Dr. Sayyid M. Saeed, President of ISNA, said, “The conversion of the Hagia Sophia was against the historical examples set by the righteous Caliphs, beginning with Abu Bakr when he advised his general heading to conquer foreign lands. The Umayyad Caliphs apologized and paid for the church land used to build the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. As American Muslims, we celebrate this Islamic provision in US law that enabled us to build 3 thousand mosques in the last half a century. Hagia Sophia is not just a Church but the main symbol of the Greek Orthodox Church. It is a slap on the entire system of the Greek Orthodox Church and Greece. It fostered permanent hate against Muslims and Islam in those quarters.” 

Dr. Saeed further adds, “The destruction of the Babri Mosque in India is a historical example of religious bigotry. We cannot do the same thing to Hagia Sophia.”   

Indeed, we have to be consistent in our policies – if we apply it in one place, we must be able to use it in every situation. As an Indian American Muslim, it hurts me to see the destruction of the Babri Mosque, and it equally hurts me to see the Hagia Sophia converted to a Mosque. We have to set an excellent example for the world. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, let Hagia Sophia be one as well. 

We urge President Erdogan to consider the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, who was and is a mercy to mankind. He granted permanent protection to places of Worship in the covenant he issued in 628 AD. A majority of Muslims believe in the sanctity of the location of Worship. We hope President Erdogan can be a catalyst in correcting false perceptions about Muslims and not convert Hagia Sophia into a Mosque. The majority of Muslims will applaud him for walking on the right path. May God bless him. 

*Dr. Mike Ghouse is the founder and president of the Center for Pluralism. He is a speaker, thinker, author, community consultant, pluralist, activist, newsmaker, and an interfaith wedding officiant. Mike is deeply committed to Free speech, Human Rights, and Pluralism in Religion, Politics, Societies, and the workplace. He has dedicated his life to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions to the media and the policymakers. More about him at www.TheGhousediary.com. 

Other pieces by Dr. Mike Ghouse:

July 4th Message: Muslims have a special bond with America

Hindutva loses some heft in the US Congress

The post Turkey: Hagia Sophia should not be converted to a Mosque   appeared first on SabrangIndia.