As many as 350,000 people took part in Friday's prayers at the Byzantine-era monument, according to Erdogan.
24 Jul, 2020
Fulfilling a dream of his Islamic-oriented youth, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined thousands of worshippers on Friday for the first Muslim prayers in 86 years inside Hagia Sophia, the Istanbul landmark that served as one of Christendom's most significant cathedrals, a mosque and a museum before its conversion back into a Muslim place of worship.
The prayers began with Erdogan reciting from the Holy Quran. The head of Turkey's religious authority, Ali Erbas, led the ceremony and prayed that Muslims would never again be denied the right to worship at the internationally celebrated 6th-century structure.
As many as 350,000 people took part in Friday's prayers, the president said.
Header image: People pray as they visit Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque after Friday prayers, in Istanbul. — Reuters
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Jul 24, 2020 10:56pm
350,000. The Lord be praised.
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Jul 24, 2020 11:10pm
Exquisite pics!
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Jul 24, 2020 11:25pm
Beautiful Ottoman Empire grandeur. Muslim architecture at its best.
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Jul 24, 2020 11:26pm
It is a historic moment for the Muslims of the world. As this monument was bought from the Christians so they should not reclaim it as a church. A place of musjid on this earth is for ever until the doom’s day. We have to fight to liberate our places of worship from the non-Muslim governments in this world.
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Jul 24, 2020 11:26pm
Amazing Scenes.
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Jul 24, 2020 11:39pm
It takes a man to realise the hopes and aspirations of his people.
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Jul 24, 2020 11:45pm
Mashallah
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Jul 25, 2020 12:00am
Should have remained as a museum.
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Jul 25, 2020 12:18am
Superb job is done by the Turkish president. Historically speaking this building was a mosque and has regained its status as a mosque now. My heartfelt congratulations to the Turkish President and t he people of Turkey.
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Jul 25, 2020 12:45am
Memorable pictures!
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Jul 25, 2020 01:16am
I’ve visited it many times and it was a beautiful example of muslim tolerance for Christians - I would have preferred it to stay a museum as there are many mosques in the areas anyway
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Jul 25, 2020 01:42am
Sultan Mehmet had paid for Aya Sophia from his own pocket . He therefore had the right to make it a masjid
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Jul 25, 2020 03:03am
Alhamdulillah, Subhanallah!
Historic moment.
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Jul 25, 2020 03:21am
Such an amazing sight seeing people flood to the National monument.
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Jul 25, 2020 04:08am
congratulations to all muslim brother. love to Turkey, great nation. finaly islam is rising again.
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Jul 25, 2020 04:44am
Congratulations. Erdogan has same spirit as Ertugrul.
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Jul 25, 2020 04:59am
Heart warming pictures. This is such a glorious achievement.
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Jul 25, 2020 05:44am
Head of State leading prayers..a very pleasant sight
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Jul 25, 2020 06:14am
Hope your prayer will listern by Jesus
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Jul 25, 2020 06:19am
Congratulations.bThis mosque must have been made with great labour and resources
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Jul 25, 2020 06:21am
For our Christians brothers who feel hurt by this, remember, you can still visit, its still open for everyone but keep in mind that the Pope did not felt sad when Babri mosque was demolished.
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Jul 25, 2020 06:42am
Whatever way you pray, Jesus will bless you.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:02am
A moment of pride for every Muslim to be a witness to such a historic event in the Muslim history.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:32am
Let it remain neutral don't act like US hurting people all over the world with their wars and non neutral actions.
Great country Turkey but come on friends please keep things secular.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:58am
Results will come soon to Erdogan
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Jul 25, 2020 08:54am
@bhaRAT©,
This isn’t Muslim architecture. This wasn’t built by the Ottomans. Ottomans didn’t exist in 6th century.
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Jul 25, 2020 08:57am
@Prof. Shah Nawaz, But here in our country we are more focus on building temples so left Arab world aside we are on different path.
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Jul 25, 2020 09:05am
@Ramana, it is not lottery
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Jul 25, 2020 09:15am
@bhaRAT©, , It was built by Christians, not an Islamic architecture.
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Jul 25, 2020 09:34am
Political theater at its finest.
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Jul 25, 2020 10:02am
@Ramana, Don't worry, He is ready to face anything but he has shown to the world that I am the Muslim Leader and don't care what the others say and Muslims will take everything belongs to them.
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Jul 25, 2020 10:28am
@bhaRAT©, brother, it was originally built as a church
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Jul 25, 2020 10:30am
@Hansi, do you know it was originally built as a church . Please get your facts straight
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Jul 25, 2020 10:31am
I am amazed to read the comments . Almost all of them didn’t have a clue that it was originally built as church
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Jul 25, 2020 10:55am
Religion of peace
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Jul 25, 2020 10:57am
Couple of paintings on the ceiling, should be covered. Whether it was right or wrong is another debate.
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Jul 25, 2020 11:01am
@White Noise, By that same logic you can also visit Ram Mandir - Why complain?
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Jul 25, 2020 11:04am
Beautiful and sad pictures. Only time will tell what happens next as this only a beginning.
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Jul 25, 2020 11:22am
@Arshad, it was for muslim, so muslim converted it to masjid.
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Jul 25, 2020 12:24pm
@Tariq Mirza, whom did he pay.
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Jul 25, 2020 01:07pm
@bhaRAT©, muslim architecture? Think you should read up a little history...
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Jul 25, 2020 02:31pm
As usual, brilliant photos by Dawn
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Jul 25, 2020 03:10pm
Does this mean that entrance is free now in this iconic place of worship?
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Jul 25, 2020 04:29pm
@kumar, apples and oranges. You demolished the structure and that too illegally that too according to your own laws.
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Jul 25, 2020 05:11pm
@bhaRAT©, It's Byzantine architecture, designed and built in 537 AD by Justinian I , the Eastern Roman emperor. Ottomans converted that to a mosque in 1453. Appropriating cultural achievements of others is not an achievement.
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Jul 25, 2020 05:38pm
Absolutely wonderful scenes of an spiritual occasion. Long live president Erdogan.
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Jul 25, 2020 06:19pm
Everyone there is praying to Christian Gods.
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Jul 25, 2020 06:37pm
@Aus neutral,
Yeah, yeah I read that now. Its part of history of Turkish people now in the land where they live.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:06pm
Shame.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:58pm
@White Noise, who are you to allow?Turkey has a secular law.
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Jul 25, 2020 07:59pm
@Moosa Al Athar, he is turning into a true Sultan. Wait for the consequences!
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Jul 25, 2020 08:04pm
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque was once Christendom's most significant Cathedral.
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Jul 25, 2020 08:19pm
@bhaRAT©, its not muslim architecture, its a roman church convered in to mosque.
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Jul 25, 2020 08:35pm
Beautiful pictures. Congratulations DAWN.
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Jul 25, 2020 11:47pm
@Sameer No history starts from 1400 years ago only.
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Jul 26, 2020 12:05am
Erdogan is now general ZIA of Turkey..
History already said about Pakistan and will said about after 15 years
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