Istanbul: Mosques in Turkey reopened on Friday for mass prayers after more than two months as the government further eased strict restrictions to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.
Turkey has been shifting since May to a "new normal" by easing lockdown measures and opening shopping malls, barbershops and hair salons.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said many other sites -- restaurants and cafes as well as libraries, parks and beaches -- will reopen from Monday.
Hundreds of worshippers wearing protective masks performed mass prayers outside Istanbul's historic Blue Mosque for the first time since mosques were shut down in March.
In the Ottoman-era Fatih mosque, worshippers prayed both inside and outside, with the municipality handing out disinfectants and disposable carpets.
"I have waited a lot for this, I have prayed a lot. I can say it's like a new birth, thanks to God, he has brought us back here," he said.
Another worshipper, Asum Tekif, 50, said: "It has a been a long time... we missed the mosques."
Turkey, a country of 83 million, has so far recorded 4,489 coronavirus-related deaths and 162,120 confirmed cases.
Prayers in Hagia Sophia
Muslim clerics on Friday recited prayers in the Hagia Sophia, the world famous Istanbul landmark which is now a museum after serving as a church and a mosque.
The prayers were held to celebrate the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople, today's Istanbul, by the Ottomans in 1453.
"It is very important to commemorate the 567th anniversary of the conquest ... through prayers in the Hagia Sophia," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who attended the ceremony via videoconference.
The stunning edifice was first built as a church in the sixth century under the Byzantine Empire as the centrepiece of its capital Constantinople.
After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted into a mosque before being turned into a museum during the rule of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in the 1930s.
But there have been hints about reconverting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Last year, Erdogan himself mooted the possibility of turning Hagia Sofia museum into a mosque.
Such calls have sparked anger among Christians and raised tensions with neighbouring Greece.
In 2015, a Muslim cleric recited the Koran in the Hagia Sophia for the first time in 85 years to mark the opening of an exhibition.
After Friday prayers at the Blue Mosque, a small group of Muslim worshippers shouted: "Let the chains break and let the Hagia Sophia open".
The group was later dispersed by the police who stopped them from protesting near Hagia Sophia that sits immediately opposite the Blue Mosque.
Comments
Look at the Khazi,
I remember back in mid 2000 he was based in BC road or Bantwal somewhere....
MAY ALLAH GUIDE HIM TO THE RIGHT PATH OF ISLAM
Racing to narga.
Race to narga.
Foolish people.
Tussle for power and Money!
These Khazis and Thangals must focus on other issues of the community instead of wasting time in such stupid subjects, Dargha means business nothing else.
@Sini Mol.
It is permitted to enter women into masjid in Islam. In gulf countries there is a separate place devided in the masjid for women to pray. It is common in all the public places that provides women a separate place, like bus seat or in the a
when will Muslims abandon darga which has no place in Islam ?
Haha Fooolish People.. Let the wrath of Allah be on the Grave Worshipers who is not ready to accept the truth.
Allah Messenger (SAWS) you will indeed follow the way sof those you, hand span by hand span, and an arms length after another. Even if they enter the lizards hole,you will follow them. We (the sahaba) asked is it the jews and christians? He replyed who else!.
One more thing
Enklena boka niklena dever de difference ijji. Enkelna dever kulder...Niklena dever Jaider - Unknown
Please ponder!!
@Sini Mol,
For your kind information, Islam not at all prohibited women to enter Masjid. I can quote many hadith about this. Some of the Pseudo Muslims in our country opposing this. They are doing opposite what Islam says. E.g. Women are not allowed
Dear
Believers NEVER despairs, They already KNOW the FITNA (trials) of this ERA... and Most of the MUSLIMS never understand such FITNA unless they FIRMLY GRIP their FAITH in ALLAH. (They will never bow or ask with the dead or to get barakah from the GRAVEs)
BELIEVERS SOLELY believe & Depend on ALLAH alone.... ALLAH is enough for them. May ALLAH include us in that Group.
They already know everything is with the permission of ALLAH, They already know cos the Prophet Muhammad pbuh said that a time will come that the BELIEVER will be very FEW but MUSLIMs will be a lot...
This TUSSLE is for the GOOD... Most of the MUSLIMs understood the POWER OF MONEY. They REALISED Who is working for the MOney and who is working for the FAITH.
RESPeCT the Auliyas the way prophet Muhammad pbuh taught us. Not the way which was never seen in the times of the SAHABAS... and the 3 generations... We might fall into SHIRK (Associating partners with ALLAH) . May ALLAH protect us from falling into SHIRK unknowingly...
Alibaba Chalees chor
I heard that Womens are not allowed to enter the Mosque.But i could see ladies Walking around the Mosque in last Picture.Can any one tell me is there any different in this Mosque.
Im a regular follower of Dr.Zakir Naik where he says in his speech that it is permissible for womens to enter the Mosque to pray with Allah. As Prophet pbuh wife's used to go.But in Kerala Women are not allowed.Muslims follow same Quran then why there is two rules in Islam. Please explain.
Shameless creature.....money speaks....
Look at khazi's face he doesn't like to see their face (Elected Peoples) which means he is not satisfied with them
PRESIDENT FOR CENTER OF SHIRK...????? NAOOZUBILLAH.
Any credibility left with khazi Khoora Thangal?
finally its end, congrats to newly elected president do good development to the dargah.
It is very sad to see that our people worshipping the thieves.
Who is this khazi and other leaders in ullal? All these people are mallus. They dividing the people in Mangalore.
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