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.
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The Qur'an, Kannada Translation & Explanation is available @
Darul-Khair Madrasa, Polymar House, Near State Bank, Nellikai Road, Mangaluru
Phone : 0824-2422933
Mob: 7760007669
Dear Brothers,
These are nothing but so called salafi, Salaf means should follow the quran and sunnah according to the understand of the Sahaba, these are just following their own desires under the banner of salafi name. kindly change your organization name to somethingelse.
Brother Thanzeel what about your pant ?did you cut?it's above the ankle?first you did and scrue aothers,
U.N.Abdul Razak sir (President of SKSM Mangalore) For the sake of Allah Please cut your Pant its beyond your Ankle.
I did my duty obeying is your Wish.
Dear Abu Rimsha,
you can use Translated Quran in Kannada Meaning Version in Android Play Store Type PAVITHRA QURAN
Already there are kannada quran by other org like Shanthi prakashana, AS Puthige etc, if we are able to done coordinated work we can avoid duplication & use energy, time, money for different works.
Dear Abu Thabish IFF is working for community not like other group fighting each other .there are many group in salafi calling them kafir first stop saying other kafir. Allaha will see heart first . Salafi Built Many Mosque Near the other Mosque .there is no need built the Mosque still they Built the Mosque near other mosque in Many place .divided the Muslim .
No identity of islam except big beared.
Hope, they are muslim
YES BRO #5 AM MANGALORE,,,, PLEASE CONTACT MASJID IBRAHIM KHALEEL, NEAR STATE BANK MANGALORE.
Can anyone tell me, can i GET FREE COPIES of this BOOK?
There are many people without knowledge made enemy of ISLAM
There are many people without knowledge HATE ISLAM
There are many people without knowledge fall trap to enemies of ISLAM
What is ISLAM?
IS ISLAM encouraging Terrorism?
IS ISLAM enemy of other RELIGION?
Does MUSLIMS hate HINDUS?
An intelligent person will try to KNOW the reality and will not accept whatever is said in the MEDIA... It is easy for ENEMIES to SPREAD LIES & FOOL, when the PUBLIC accept whatever said to them... & not VERIFYING.
We MUSLIMS believe that QURAN is word of OUR CREATOR ALLAH, and his MESSAGE to all of his CREATION including NON MUSLIMS ... IT is YOUR choice to READ it, PONDER it, if not satisfied MAKE a research of it... If YOU still dont believe what is said in QURAN ... it upto U .. there is NO FORCE on YOU by the RELIGION of TRUTH, the only religion accepted by the CREATOR of all that exists.
THINK & PONDER.... Dont stay IDLE ...
Well said Mr. Abu Thabish, KSA.
Dear Karnataka Salafi Movement Concern,
Plz advise the Salafies translated Quran with Kannada meaning version in android Play store. Presently I am using Divya Quran by Shanti Prakashana.
Salaam
Masha Alaah...
Dear IFF, KCF Brothers
This is what we call Deeni Program. Helping the Society to achieve the Goal for Life after Death.
See the Beard See the Pant (Above the Ankle) This is the Actual Uniform of Islam.
Do not waste your Precious time..Learn Islaam before its too LATE.
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