Hagia Sophia: An Heirloom of the Conqueror, the Will of the Nation
· Halil ETYEMEZ
There are days in the history of nations that are not merely anniversaries of a decision, a ceremony, or an opening. Those days are turning points where a nation's memory is revived, its history is embraced, and its future is shaped.
Dear friends,
There are days in the history of nations that are not merely anniversaries of a decision, a ceremony, or an opening. Those days are turning points where a nation's memory is revived, its history is embraced, and its future is shaped.
July 10, 2020, is such a date.
Today, we mark the sixth anniversary of Hagia Sophia's reconversion to a mosque.
This date is not just the day a building was reopened for worship. It is also the day a civilization's memory was resurrected, the heirloom of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan was embraced, and our nation re-established a strong bond with its historical identity.
I was among those who experienced the peace of witnessing this great day firsthand. Standing in the same rows as millions during the first Friday prayer after Hagia Sophia was reopened for worship, listening to the call to prayer echoing from its domes, and saying 'Amen' to centuries of prayers remains one of the most meaningful memories in my heart, one I will never forget.
It would be incomplete to seek Hagia Sophia's meaning solely in its stones, dome, or architecture. Because Hagia Sophia is the memory of our civilization.
With the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan in 1453, Hagia Sophia transformed into more than just a place of worship; it became a symbol of justice, the culture of endowments (waqf), knowledge, and Islamic civilization. Fatih Sultan Mehmet endowed Hagia Sophia as his personal property and willed in his endowment deed that it remain a mosque until the Day of Judgment.
Its conversion into a museum during the Republican era created a deep longing in the hearts of our nation for many years. This is because the issue of Hagia Sophia was never just about a building. It became a symbol of our nation's perspective on its history, identity, and civilizational aspirations.
Many thinkers and activists have contributed greatly to keeping this ideal alive.
The late Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan viewed Hagia Sophia not just as a place of worship but as a symbol of the dignity and will for independence of the Islamic world. In his speeches years ago, he used this historic statement:
'If the call to prayer is resounding in Hagia Sophia, and the voice of truth is proclaimed to the whole world, then know that believers are dominant in Turkey.'
This statement actually explains why Hagia Sophia is a common value not only for Turkey but for the entire Islamic world.
The great intellectual Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, who never lost hope for Hagia Sophia's reopening, made this historic call to the youth years ago:
'Young people! I don't know if it's today or tomorrow; but Hagia Sophia will be opened...'
This statement lived in memories for years as a symbol of an ideal and a belief.
And finally, on July 10, 2020, with the strong will of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the decision of the Council of State, and the Presidential Decree, Hagia Sophia regained its original identity.
This decision is not merely a legal procedure. It is also a powerful manifestation of historical loyalty, responsibility towards our civilization, and respect for the national will.
The reopening of Hagia Sophia for worship also serves as a significant indicator of the Republic of Turkey's exercise of its sovereign rights within the framework of law. A sovereign state has the authority to make decisions regarding the historical and cultural heritage within its borders. In this regard, the Hagia Sophia decision is not just the reopening of a place of worship; it is a declaration to the world of national will, the understanding of an independent state, and the right of sovereignty.
However, the responsibility that Hagia Sophia imposes on us is not limited to merely opening its doors for worship.
The real issue is to keep the 'Hagia Sophia spirit' alive.
If we can transmit the knowledge, justice, compassion, endowment culture, aesthetics, ethics, and civilizational vision that Hagia Sophia represents to new generations, then we will have truly upheld the heirloom of the Conqueror.
Our children should know Hagia Sophia not just as a tourist attraction; but through conquest, endowment culture, the tradition of knowledge, and civilizational ambition. Because civilizations are sustained not just by buildings, but by consciousness, ethics, and bridges of values built between generations.
While Hagia Sophia reminds us of the past, it also places a significant responsibility on us for the future. This responsibility is to build a strong civilizational consciousness before building strong cities.
Looking at Hagia Sophia on its sixth anniversary today, we see not just a reopened place of worship, but a nation that embraces its history, a will loyal to its heirloom, and a civilizational vision confidently walking towards its future.
Our prayer to our Lord is that the calls to prayer rising from Hagia Sophia's domes never cease until the Day of Judgment; and that this nation always upholds its history, its civilization, and its heirlooms.
Thanks be to our Lord... 🇹🇷