The significance of place is a key factor in influencing individuals. The beliefs and values held by individuals also shape their connection to a place. Throughout history, humanity has constructed buildings that reflect its own thoughts and beliefs. In this context, the masjid plays a significant role for Muslims on the axis of faith, worship, and morality. The construction of a masjid by Prophet Muhammad in Medina following the hijrah stands as an enduring example for Muslims, emphasizing the unity of mosques and people. Hence, traditional Islamic cities center on the mosques, and life flows around the mosques.
Hagia Sophia, despite emerging on the historical stage about 15 centuries ago, remains a monument of intense attention to this day. The conquest of Istanbul holds significance not only for the Muslim world but also for world history. This momentous event has set unique examples in the name of humanity and morality, faith and values, freedom, and reconstruction. The Prophet’s (saw) words praising the conquest of Istanbul were the driving force behind Mehmed II’s decision to undertake the conquest. Seeking to be the recipient of the Prophet’s glad tidings, Mehmed II embraced this ambition when he was still a young boy. The above[1]mentioned hadith can be seen on a plaque dated 1109/1698, which is placed near the Emperor’s Door of Hagia Sophia. On the morning of Tuesday, May 29, 1453, on this historic day that ushered in an era and ended another, the people took refuge in Hagia Sophia with fear and anxiety. When the Sultan entered this magnificent building, he was first impressed by its splendor and magnificence and thanked Allah for the conquest. He granted life and safety to the anxiously awaiting people and then performed the prayer of gratitude in a suitable place within Hagia Sophia. The khutbah for the conquest was delivered, and Friday prayers were performed in Hagia Sophia. Consequently, Mehmed II earned the title of the Conqueror for capturing the city, often referred to as the pearl of the east and the west. To commemorate the victory, Mehmed the Conqueror converted the city’s largest church into a mosque but retained the name Hagia Sophia, which means “Wisdom of God”. Therefore, this place of worship became one of the symbols of the Muslim world and Istanbul became a sister city to Mecca, Medina, and al-Quds.
Mehmed the Conqueror marking the end of an 86- year hiatus. The reopening of the Grand Mosque was met with immense joy in the Muslim world and continues to attract Muslims from around the globe.
Following the conquest, numerous initiatives were undertaken to establish Istanbul as a center of knowledge and wisdom. The city was adorned with social complexes that included mosques, madrasas, covered markets, bathhouses, medical centers, and soup kitchens. Mehmed the Conqueror converted Hagia Sophia into a social complex, repurposing structures on the north side into madrasas. During the Ottoman era, Hagia Sophia served as a social complex with classes conducted in the mosque, madrasa, and library. The Hagia Sophia Library, inaugurated during the reign of Mahmud I with the complete recitation of Bukhari and had a collection of 4000 works, continued scholarly activities until 1924. Even today, hadith classes are conducted within its walls.
With gradual additions of new structures, Hagia Sophia took its present and complete form. Following the wooden minaret constructed during the conquest plans, Mehmed the Conqueror had another brick minaret built in the southeast corner.
Subsequently, Mimar Sinan constructed a minaret on the northeast corner and twin minarets on the west side and strengthened the mosque with buttresses. Sixteen couplets from the “Qasida al-Burda” are inscribed in gilded calligraphy on the outer faces of the marble portico arches of the elegant fountain. The tulip-shaped finial of the fountain bears the verse “And We created from water every living thing” (Anbiya, 21:30) .
The first of the Sultan’s mausoleums of Hagia Sophia, built around the city’s great mosques as a tradition, was built for Selim II and was also the work of Mimar Sinan. In the following periods, the minaret, minbar (pulpit), and mahfil (loge) were added to the architecture of the grand mosque. With significant emphasis placed on its interior decoration, Hagia Sophia was ornamented with the tile-written basmala al-sharif in 1607. The world’s largest calligraphic roundels, written by Kazasker Mustafa Izzet Efendi in the 19th century, adorn the great mosque with their magnificence. The following verse 35 of the Surah al-Nur written on the colossal dome, is like the seal of the mosque, “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. His light is like a niche in which there is a lamp, the lamp is in a crystal, and the crystal is like a shining star, lit from the oil of a blessed olive tree, located neither to the east nor the west, whose oil would almost glow, even without being touched by fire. Light upon light! Allah guides whoever He wills to His light. And Allah sets forth parables for humanity. For Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.” Moreover, the sultan’s tughra, crafted from the mosaics of Hagia Sophia during the reign of Abdulmejid I, has earned a place in art history as an exceptional calligraphy practice. Many calligraphy plates that were once housed in Hagia Sophia have been relocated to other locations, with some remaining unexhibited, including several now found in the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Additionally, numerous calligraphies and inscriptions adorn various places, such as the sultan’s loge, library, almshouse, treasury building, fountain, and mausoleums, although specific details about these locations have not been mentioned here.
This magnificent mosque, with its captivating ambiance, imposing size, opulent mosaics, vibrant marbles, harmonious integration of architectural elements and art, intricate tiling, ornate calligraphy, embellishments, and its significant religious, political, and historical ties will undoubtedly endure as a centerpiece for centuries to come.
