Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Hagia Sophia
[This article was written in 2020 when the Turkish government decided to convert Hagia Sophia back to a masjid. It was originally published on www.kn-ow.com.]
Why are Muslims celebrating an un-islamic war tactic?
I was enjoying my evening tea along with my daily dose of the popular Turkish series- Ertugrul (of the many things Turkish that we love) , when I got a call from my sister. “Did you hear, Hagia Sophia will be re-converted into a Masjid?”, she said.
It was all over the internet that the famous Orthodox Christian Cathedral that was converted to a masjid by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, then made into a museum by the secular Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has now been reverted to a masjid open for prayers by a Turkish court.
Her next question on hearing my reply was, ”Do you think the Prophet (saw) would order something like this- conversion of a Cathedral, a revered religious site of another faith to a masjid?” My answer was, ”The Prophet I’ve read about, never ordered anything like this”. The four Caliphs of Islam, unanimously accepted and respected by Muslim Orthodoxy (Khulafa Rashidoon) in their respective tenures never ordered anything like this. So why is this event being celebrated by the ‘online’ Muslim community?
I put out a post on it expressing my disappointment as follows:
“Converting a Christian site to a masjid? Islamic or not? Has the Prophet (saw) and His righteous Caliphs (ra) left us a precedent in this regard? Have they converted a church/cathedral/synagogue into a masjid ever?”
But none, not even one person could say that the Prophet (saw) would do something like this. Not even one comment affirming it, but still my notifications filled up with people supporting this move by other arguments, none of which had anything to do with prophetic ethics.
Conversion of religious sites- An Un-Islamic War Tactic
In the past, when wars were fought with physical combat between armies, various tactics were employed to bring down the morale of the enemy. Like, killing a key figure, capturing the commander, taking over a key location, pitching one’s flag on a key army post, taking women and children hostage, and yes taking control of a key religious/cultural site.
When the Prophet Muhammad (saw) prepared his people for retaliatory wars (ghazawaat) in the Medinan Period of Islamic History, he abolished many of these conventional war practices. The Arabs were well known for their fighting skills. A big part of their folklore and poetry described famous battles. Despite this, the same people who in the past would fight over petty issues were ordered by the Prophet (saw) to adhere to patience for 13 long years and endure the tribulations of the Pagan Arabs. Eventually when the time for combat came, the Prophet (saw) reminded them that the purpose of Jihad was to bring about justice in the place of oppression. They had been tremendously wronged, oppressed and tortured for over a decade. It was their right to defend themselves.
However, the Prophet (saw) warned them against commiting any excesses in warfare which would invalidate the very purpose of a blessed struggle to defend one’s life. Look at how the first Caliph and the best friend of the Prophet (saw), Abu Bakr (ra) advised a Muslim military unit : “O people, I will give you ten rules for your guidance in the battlefield. Do not commit treachery or deviate from the right path. You must not mutilate or disrespect dead bodies. Neither kill a child, nor a woman, nor an aged man. Bring no harm to the trees, nor burn them, especially those which are fruit bearing. Slay not any of the enemy’s flock, save for your food. You are likely to pass by people who have devoted their lives to monastic services; leave them alone in their monasteries.”
The conversion of religious sites was a Non-Muslim tactic
The Quran orders the preservation of religious sites in these words- “Were Allah not to check people by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is often mentioned”. (Surat Al-Hajj 22:40)
The Catholic armies converted the Grand Mosque of Seville, Toledo and countless other masjids in Muslim Spain to churches and cathedrals during the Reconquista (conquest of Muslim Spain by Catholic Christians)
The communal Hindu political party lobbied to convert the Mughal period Babri Masjid to a temple as a move to bolster their image and use anti Muslim rhetoric to further their communal agenda in India.
Donald Trump threatened to attack religious sites in Iran after the US led assasination of General Solaimani in Iraq.
All these acts have a purpose to subdue the morale of the enemy and establish the power of the oppressor.
These are unislamic and completely against Quranic ethics.
Better than being a Museum
No doubt, what Ataturk did was un-islamic and shameful. How can one convert the House of God into a Museum? Imagine if the Zionists were to take over Al Aqsa and convert it to a museum or their Third Temple !
Would the Prophet (saw) allow the conversion of a Church into a Masjid?
Its disappointing to see that most Muslims would rather support the decision of a ruler, Sultan Mehmed II, than obey the Quran and the Prophet (saw). Many would even bend over their backs to legitimize his war tactic by saying, ‘He bought it’, ‘It was non functional’, ‘It was his, as he conquered the city’, and so on. Most of these ‘silly excuses’ are simply either a misinterpretation of history or downright misunderstanding of Islamic ethics in war.
How did Umar (ra) enter Jerusalem?
Now this may be an eye opener for many. When, during the time of Umar (ra) in 637 CE, Jerusalem was conquered, how did Caliph Umar deal with his victory? What did he do to the Christian holy site there? Jerusalem had been a holy city for the Jews for over a 1000 years and when they rejected Jesus (pbuh), within a short span of time, the Roman Army drove them out and Jerusalem became the religious capital of the Christian world for another 600 years. In the 7th Century Umar (ra) took control of the city. What was the fate of the Christians living there? What about the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which was the holiest site for Christians there ? So here you are ! See the big difference between what we are supposed to do as Muslims when carrying out a conquest and what the Ottoman Emperor did.
Umar (ra) travelled accompanied by a servant on one camel and they took turns. Umar rode on the camel for some distance, the servant rode next and then for some time, camel would be left without load and they would both walk. Imagine the humility and justice of Sayyidina Umar (ra). When they approached the area close to Jerusalem, it was the servant’s turn to ride and so Umar walked. The servant offered to skip his turn, Umar refused. The people watched in shock as this was contrary to the norm exhibited by the mighty of the time. As the Christian authorities were awaiting a flamboyant ruler to arrive with a cavalcade of horses, they saw a humble man in simple clothes approach them. This was the one who brought the two world powers to their knees. He signed a treaty and gave guarantees of civil and religious liberties to Christians. Add to that, he even allowed the Jews to return and live inside Jerusalem after being persecuted and banned by the Romans for over 600 years.
At the time of the Zuhr prayer, Sophronius, the Patriarch, invited Umar to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Umar declined, fearing that accepting the invitation might endanger the church’s status as a place of Christian worship, and that Muslims might turn the church into a mosque.
And Jerusalem for centuries witnessed this beautiful display of religious harmony and coexistence where Jews, Christians and Muslims worshipped the God of Abraham in their own special ways in the same compound. This unity, however, was threatened when the Zionists came into the picture.
The real issue isn’t Hagia Sophia, but the real issue is that Muslims are unaware of their own legacy and the fundamental characteristic of their own religion, which is ‘respect for the other’.
I fear, hundred years of colonialism, then secular education, the mainstream media and its Islamophobic propaganda, have achieved success in deceiving not just others but even Muslims themselves, into this false notion of Islam being a violent cult, determined to convert/colonize the entire world to an Islamic State through holy wars.
Nothing could be farther from the Quranic perception of the role of Muslims, than this. The fact that you have people comfortably ignoring the Prophet’s (saw) ethics and his merciful character and celebrating the medieval war tactic of a conqueror, means that we have a severe disconnect with our roots and a dangerous misunderstanding of our own religion. This is scary !
Let’s address the ‘silly excuses’ that are hurled around as fig leaves over this unislamic conversion of a cathedral to a masjid:
- The Sultan bought it and there is a sale deed - Do the conquered have any right to refuse the offer? If that is the case then it is a coercive transaction and not really legal and halal in light of the Quran’s guidance on trading. One must be reminded of the warning of the Prophet (saw), ”If anyone wrongs a non-Muslim protected by a covenant, violates his rights, burdens him with more work than he is able to do, or takes something from him without his consent, then I will be his advocate on the Day of Resurrection.” (Sunan Abu Dawud 3052)
People of the Book (Jews and Christians) usually come under this category and any wrong done to them by a Muslim, will be liable to the great trial of facing the Prophet (saw) as one’s adversary on the Day of Judgement.
2. It was non functional and needed repair - With many years of war, that may have been the case but it doesn’t take away the fact that Hagia Sophia is to the Eastern Orthodox Christians what the Haram Sharif is to us. Till date, the heart of the devout Christians yearn for it.
3. It was the seat of political power of Constantinople and hence who conquered it has a right over it- This is a case of misunderstanding Islamic war ethics plus a misunderstanding of the status of Hagia Sophia in the hearts of Eastern Orthodox Christians. Whenever a city was conquered by Muslims, regardless of whether they surrender or not, the Prophetic instructions were to allow the people to practice their faiths and preserve the sanctity of their religious sites. Islam came as a liberative force freeing people from injustice, not a Colonial power that looted, pillaged, massacred and then took over whatever they could get their hands on. That’s what the British, Dutch, French, Italians, Americans and Zionists did around the world. That is not the Quran, not Islam !
4. In Umar’s (ra) case, the people of Jerusalem had surrendered, hence with their treaty they came under the protection of the Muslim Caliphate. But Constantinople was different, as the community did not surrender and hence all of it came to the Muslims as Ghanimah (war booty), including the Cathedral. The proponents of this argument should be asked for proof. Where has the Quran or the Hadith allowed the conversion of religious institutions onto Masjids, in situations where the Ahlul Kitab do not surrender in war? Are religious institutions included in war booty according to the Quran ? If they think so, they must provide proof.
Imran Khan- Reliving the Islamic legacy of religious harmony
It was commendable to see a Muslim leader following the example of the Prophet (saw) and his righteous companions when Imran Khan honored Sikh worshippers by constructing the Kartarpur Corridor which leads to the revered Sikh leader Guru Nanak’s home in Pakistan. Not only did this move establish religious harmony between the Sikhs and Muslims, but also could bring about a new era of peace between the countries of the Sub Continent. However, the media didn’t give it the attention it deserved. Maybe, because it goes against the mainstream media painted stereotypical image of Islam being an intolerant faith.
Modern day Turkey has an immense responsibility
Personally I have great admiration for the Turkish people, their culture, their history and the pivotal role many of their leaders have played in the preservation of Islam. President Erdogan is an honorable statesman, someone who has repeatedly spoken out for the rights of oppressed Muslims throughout the world. Even the Prophet (saw) spoke so favorably and lovingly about an army that will ‘open’ Constantinople and its praiseworthy leader. Many people mistake Sultan Fatih II to be that leader. But another hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud proves that this “opening of Constantinople” is after the Malhama (Great War) which has not happened as yet, so it is a future event. Clearly the Turks have a great role to play in the End Times. But the reason for their rise will be their sincere love and adherence to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (saw).
The Turks who will conquer Constantinople will have the love and devotion of Mevlana Rumi, the sincerity and perseverance of Badiuzzaman Nursi and the courage and foresight of Ertugrul Ghazi. These would be a people who realize no matter how many differences we may have with the Orthodox Christian world, the Quran honors them with the status of ‘Ahlul Kitab’ and preserves their identity and religious sites. Hence, we must uphold the teachings of the Quran over and above every other ideology, norm or military tactic. These are the kind of people the Prophet (saw) referred to in the famous hadith on Constantinople, “What a wonderful army that would be! What a wonderful leader that would be!” [Musnad Ahmad, Al Hakim, al Jami’ al Saghir].
Do you think someone who goes against the Quran and Sunnah and converts a Cathedral into a Masjid, is being referred to in this hadith?
I don’t think so!
I wait for the day the Quranic teachings and the actual practice of the Prophet (saw) is revived and reinstated in this regard and Hagia Sophia is turned back to being a holy Cathedral for the Eastern Orthodox Christian community. That is when we would have really pleased Allah and His Messenger (saw). I patiently wait for that day.
Read this article to know how Sultan Mehmet Fatih was not the one who fulfilled the prophecy of Constantinople: https://safiyyahsabreen.medium.com/the-conquest-of-constantinople-has-not-happened-as-yet-fc888e9ae500
To read more on this subject, download this book: http://imranhosein.org/o/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Constantinople-in-the-Quran.pdf
