It has been said that if you want to enjoy your holiday, go to a country that offers natural beauty, famous landmarks and a rich cultural heritage. All three can be found in Istanbul, this year's European Capital of Culture. I was part of a fortunate group of journalists from around the world who, were invited to discover the magic of Ramadan in Istanbul during the last week of August. My first impression of this ancient city was the sheer number of Islamic landmarks in this cosmopolitan and religiously diverse destination. The exploration of these landmarks was the main objective of Turkey's Ministry of Tourism whose theme: “Istanbul in the Holy Month of Ramadan, Past and Present” aimed to display the city's Islamic heritage. “This trip was organized to reflect the religious background of Turkish people depicted by attending the Ramadan symposiums of Turkish scholars and to observe closely the daily life of Muslims in Turkey during Ramadan,” remarked the General Coordinator of the trip Mustafa Ismet Sarac. Istanbul is a symbolic city in many more ways. It is often called the destination where East and West meet, culturally as well as geographically. The city is literally divided into two continents: It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) sides of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Although the city is a bit crowded during rush hours, visitors can reach destinations easily due to the many means of transportation including the metro, cars and buses. On of the most significant ways in which Turkish Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan is by creating the “Mahya” which are illustrative displays of verses from the Holy Qur'an and Ahadiths (Prophet Muhammad's, peace be upon him) on sayings banners between balconies or on the minarets of mosques. The beautiful artistic displays are constant remainders to Muslims in the city about their religious obligations. Divine inspiration The Sultan Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque or the Mosque of Six Minarets) is also an inspiring destination for visitors. Located within the mosque itself is a beautiful model of the Grand Mosque of Madina gifted by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Tayeb Ardoghan. Constructed by Sedeftkar Mehmet Aga, the mosque was built between 1609-1616 and its premises also include a hospital and school. My experience within the mosque was soothing and thought-provoking, aided by the psychological comfort every Muslim experiences after hearing young boys reciting the Holy Qur'an in almost every corner of the mosque. Located nearby is Istanbul's most famous landmark: The Hagia Sophia (Aya Sophia) Museum, which stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the city which boasts of both Islamic and Christian significance. It is also an enduring symbol of the city's inherent religious tolerance with Christians and Muslims living side-by-side for centuries in peace. “Aya Sphia is one of the most important landmarks of Sultan Ahmed Square area for both Christians and Muslims in Turkey. It was founded by Byzantine Emperor Justinian between the years 532-537 AD and used to be a church from the 6th to 15th centuries and was converted to a mosque between 15th and 19th centuries, “ explained Mostafa Irfan, a specifically designated tourist guide. He added that Mostafa Kamal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey ordered for it to be transformed into a museum in 1935. To reflect its Islamic heritage, the names of Prophets along with those of the Sahaba have been carved or written on top of columns within the interior of the museum. One of the most attractive objects in the Hagia Sophia Museum is a large jar belonging to the Hellenistic period. These jars were usually used for keeping honey, milk and oil by Ottoman families. The museum also has one of the most religiously significant columns in the world, known as the Wishing Column. Visitors from across the world used to think that their dreams would come true if they placed their fingers on the column and circled it while stating their wish. Tourist guides offer a variety of ‘miracles' accordingly. “It is said that a lady used to be sterile. However, after visiting the wishing column, she gave birth to a set of twins,” confided our guide Irfan. Impressive royalty Visiting the palaces of Top Kapi and Dolma Bahjah, where many of the Sultans reigned the entire from Ottoman Empire resolutely also give visitors a taste of immense luxury. The Dolma Bahjah palace, for example, is ornamented with wide green gardens and littered with beautiful artifacts. The palace's architect had allegedly used 14 tons of gold in the interior design of the palace. I call my second day in the city “Conquer Day” simply because it was spent at the Panorama Museum, which contains almost 10,000 paintings of Ottoman and Byzantine soldiers with imaginary depictions of the city being conquered. The museum is a testament to the Mohammad Al-Fateh's conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and is located on the site where the city was conquered by Ottoman forces and Al-Fateh erected his tent. One of the most important objects in the museum is the congratulatory letter from the Governor of Makkah to Al-Fateh. The museum offers visitors the chance to re-live the battles and conquest with inspirational sound recordings. It was my first time to visit such museum that tells the visitors with imaginary music and voices of soldiers in the battle start and end of describing it's specific details. Istanbul, here and now The district of Baskdar in Istanbul offers visitors an impressive experience in Ramadan. The community gears up with activities for both adults and children and organizers told me that the community had - in cooperation with the mayoralty - organized Iftar for more than 22,000 needy people. In fact, one of the largest Iftar meals was set up in Eminonu Square this Ramadan, catering not just to fasting Muslims but also to other homeless and needy people in the area.
