The Sultan Ahmed Masjid also known commercially as the Blue Mosque is one of the main items in the agenda of visiting Turkey. We have heard and read so much about this majestic Masjid. In this release, I share you its exterior and interior pictures that I took in the morning, dawn, night and afternoon, from various angles. In addition, I will share about my frank opinion about decorating Masjid based on what stipulated in the holy Qur’an El Kareem and El Hadiths.
On the second day of our visit, we decided to perform our maghrib-‘isya congregation in the Masjid. We went back to our hotel, which was just 5 minutes walk to the Masjid for the ablution. The great Messenger of Allah swt, Prophet Muhammad saw, has explained to the Companion how the reward goes on increasing in the case of a person who, after performing ablution, leaves his house with the sole intention of joining the prayer congregation in the Masjid; each step he takes, brings one reward as well as washes away one sin. Banu Salama, a clan in Madinah, had their houses at some distance. They intended to shift close to the Masjid. The Prophet Sallallah hu alaihi wassalam however, advised them by saying, “Stay where you are. Every step that you take when coming to Masjid is written in your account”. It is said in a hadith, “The likeness of a person performing ablution at home and then leaving for Masjid is as likeness of a person who, after dressing in the Ihraam at his house, leaves for Hajj”
We went to the Sultan Ahmed Masjid around 15 minutes after the Azan – Prayer call has been made and arrived at court yard around 17:15 hours, where the first batch of the Maghrib prayer congregation has already been concluded. There were many visitors, at least one hundred of them had been waiting and patiently queuing in front of the main prayer hall door. Non-Muslim visitors are not allowed to enter the prayer hall during the main prayer time – the five Muslim obligatory prayers. With no other option left, we joined the queue zealously but patiently with the hope that there will be other congregation performed by others inside the main hall.
Finally, amazed and stunned with the size and the magnificent architecture, interior design, and facilities, we could not imagine that our feet were in one of the significant Masjid – the ‘House’ of Allah swt, in the world. Alhamdullillah – praise be for Allah swt………….Subhanallah – glory only to Allah. We placed our shoes inside the plastic bag provided by the Masjid, went straight to the front right hand side of the majestic pulpit, and joined a small congregation. After the prayer, I sat quietly on the soft thick Turkish made carpet, I believed, thinking and talking to Allah swt in my heart and mind. I asked myself, if the great Messenger of Allah swt is still alive, I bet he will not agree with this lavish thing.
I looked around, took few shots and went to the backside of the prayer hall for more better angles and composition. I set my tripod and DSLR but was stopped by security. He kindly requested me not to use the tripod inside the Masjid prayer hall. Disgruntled and puzzled, I wondered why tripod was not allowed in the prayer hall. If they could allowed non-Muslim ladies, women or girls indecently dressed (in accordance with the Syariah – Islamic legal law) and appropriately ‘cleaned’ wandering around with their Heineken/beer contaminated boyfriends (one could easily smell the stinky beer from their mouths) in the prayer hall, what is the problem with the tripod? Nevertheless, Aiman and I obediently complied with their instruction, thus packed the manfrotto away.
Sultan Ahmed I, after the war with Persia and the Peace of Zsitvatorok withdrawn the Treasury funds to fund the building of this imperial Masjid in Istanbul to definitely placate Allah swt!. The move however, had provoked anger among the Muslim legal Scholars.
He ordered the Masjid to be built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, facing the Hagia Sophia (at that time the most venerated Masjid in Istanbul) and the hippodrome, a site of great symbolic significance. Large parts of the southern side of the mosque rest on the foundation and vaults of the Great Palace. Several palaces had already been built there, most notably the palace of Sokollu Mehmet Paşa. Thus, these was bought at a considerable cost and pulled down. Large parts of the Sphendone (curved tribune with U-shaped structure of the hippodrome) were removed to make room for the Masjid.
Construction of the mosque commenced in August 1609 when the sultan himself came to break the first sod. It was his intention that this would become the first Masjid of his empire. He appointed his royal architect Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, a pupil and senior assistant of the famous architect Sinan to be in charge of the construction. The organization of the work was described in meticulous detail in eight volumes, now found in the library of the Topkapı Palace. The opening ceremonies were held in 1617 (although the inscription on the gate of the mosque says 1616).
The Masjid is popularly known by tourist as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. I personally disputed this opinion, mainly due to the fact that, around 60% - 70% of the interior are cover by either by beige or light brownish colored tiles. Thus, it cannot be called blue though.
5 minutes before the ‘Isha Prayer-call made by the Muadzin, Securities politely asked hundreds of the non-Muslim visitors leaving the main prayer hall. They emptied the hall with full respect. The prayer hall, which was 10 minutes ago, packed with people, but now left with few people waiting for the Iqamah!. Sad to see but this scene is quite common in many lavishly built Masjid in the world with no exemption to the PutraJaya Masjid at Putrajaya, Malaysia…..except on Friday. The amazing 72 meters long, 64 meters wide, and 43 meters height (outer dome) Masjid, which could accommodate easily 10,000 people, was only patronized by one row of elderly people performing the ‘Isha prayer!
In my very frank opinion, decorating of Masjid in a very ambitious and lavish manner is not encouraged in Islam. Some scholars claimed that it is the most common mistakes that people made in this century. Nowadays, a considerable percentage of Masjid are full of distracting ornaments, inscriptions, and colors. When you enter such Masjid, you feel as if you are in a grand palace, which inevitably hinders from proper submission and reflection in worship.Masjid should always remind us, the servants of Allah swt of the Day of Judgment or life thereafter; promote modesty, humility and renouncing worldly pleasures.
Therefore, if this leads to extravagance, it can amount to prohibition, as the Almighty Allah says in Verses 26-27, Chapter 17, Al-‘Isra: “But spend not wastefully (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily, spendthrifts are brothers of the Shaitan, and the Shaitan is ever ungrateful to his Lord”Imam Al-Bukhary (may Allah be merciful to him) said it in his chapter on building Masjid. Abu Sa’id said, “The ceiling of the Masjid was made on palm branches.” When Umar ra ordered a Masjid to be built he said, “This is more protective for people from rain. But never paint it in red or yellow, lest you should distract people.”
In another Hadith, Anas ra said, “There are people who boast of Masjid, but do not maintain them with prayer and remembering Allah swt, except little.”
Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud recorded with a sound chain of narration on the authority of Anas bin Malik, who reported that the Messenger of Allah swt (peace be upon him) said, “The Hour will not be established until people vie in boasting with each other regarding their Masjid.”
This reminded me about an Al-Bukhari Masjid at Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur built by Syed Mokhtar Bukhari. The simplistic exterior and interior of the Masjid complied with the above (Verse and Hadith) and impressed me.
I was ‘caught’ by few friendly Turkish university students for interview. Few steps after exiting the Masjid, they stopped me and asked my permission whether I am interested to participate with their interview for their university project. After being convinced and assured by them, I agreed. Among others, they asked me; what do I think about Turkey, its people, and should Turkey join the European Union? It was fun and nice spending and sharing my thoughts with them.
After taking few interesting shots at the courtyard, we left the Masjid with some excitement, definitely memorable fruitful experience but with a bit of frustration.
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