Western Hypocrisy: Hagia Sophia’s Conversion to A Mosque Was Not from A Church or A Cathedral
By
Ejaz Naqvi
July 18,
2020
The
conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque last week, drew sharp reactions from
the Christian, Muslim and secular circles. Many Muslims have supported the
“conversion” to a mosque, while others have opposed it. Predictably most
Western states and orthodox Christians, among others, have criticized it. I
will discuss what I believe is the Qur’an’s view on churches, as well as the
hypocrisy of those critical of the move.
To be
clear, this time around Hagia Sophia’s conversion to a mosque was not from a
church or a cathedral.
Turkey’s
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had announced the decision to convert Hagia
Sophia into a mosque after a court annulled the site’s museum status.
Here is a
very brief history to understand the issue.
It was
built in year 537 during the Byzantine rule of the Constantinople.
It was
converted to a mosque in the year 1453 when the Ottoman ruler Sultan Muhammad
II conquered the city (later named Istanbul). There are reports that he paid
for it from his personal wealth, rather than the state money.
Mustafa
Kamal Ataturk, the secular founder of modern Turkey, converted the mosque into
a museum in the year 1934.
It has been
the second most popular tourist attraction in Turkey in more modern times.
As you can
see, the current Turkish court ruling did not convert a church into a mosque.
Hagia Sophia has been a mosque for almost 500 years before the secular Turkish
founder converted it into a museum. The case has been in courts since and it
was not until last week that the Turkish court annulled its status as a museum.
It is also
very true that prior to half a millennium history of Hagia Sophia as a mosque,
it was a cathedral.
It would be
more accurate to say that it was built as a cathedral.
Here is my
view on this issue. It is influenced by the teachings of the Qur’an and the
Sunnah (teachings, examples and the sayings) of Prophet Muhammad.
The Qur’an
actually calls for the protection of the churches, synagogues, mosques and
other places of worship. This is something even many Muslims are not familiar
with.
…. For had
it not been for Allah’s repelling some men by means of others, monasteries and
churches and synagogues and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft
mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helps one who
helps Him.…. 22:40
In other
words, defending churches and synagogues is helping God’s cause.
I had
published a post on Prophet Muhammad’s covenant with the monks of the St.
Catherine’s monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Prophet
Muhammad’s Covenant with the Christians of Mt. Sinai Monastery
The
reported persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries, especially in
the land ruled by Daesh, or ISIS, as it is known in the west is troublesome. It
is often claimed that their actions are in accordance with the Sharia. But is
it really guided by Islamic principles, or the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad?
Ask a
Born-Again Muslim
-----
Here is
part of the covenant.
“This is a letter which was issued by Muhammad, Ibn Abdullah, the
Messenger, the Prophet, the Faithful, who is sent to all the people as a trust
on the part of God to all His creatures, that they may have no plea against God
hereafter. Verily God is the Mighty, the Wise.”
“This letter is directed to the embracers of Islam, as a covenant given
to the followers of Jesus (of) Nazarene in the East and West, the far and near,
the Arabs and foreigners, the known and the unknown.”
“No one is allowed to plunder these Christians, or destroy or spoil any
of their churches, or houses of worship, or take any of the things contained
within these houses and bring it to the houses of Islam. And he who takes away
anything therefrom, will be one who has corrupted the oath of God, and, in
truth, disobeyed His Messenger.”
Having said
all that, it is worth repeating here that Hagia Sophia’s conversion to a mosque
last week is NOT a conversion of a church to a mosque. Rather it is
re-conversion of a museum into a mosque, though it is worth noting the
teachings of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad to protect the places of worship
where God’s praises are celebrated.
Now the
Hypocrisy of The West and Others
It is worth
noting that the cathedral was in a bad shape as it was largely neglected for
years by the Byzantines before 1453.
The outcry
from many in the West has been widespread. Many are expressing concerns for
religious freedom and “Islamic fundamentalism”
I could not
help noticing the hypocrisy of the silence of these same very vocal voices
about a number of mosques in the world that have been turned into temples and
churches.
Where were
these fighters of religious freedom when numerous mosques around the world were
converted to Hindu temples and churches?
Ashok
Swain also noted this in his tweet last week.
Now Turkey says why the world was silent when Israel turned Al-Ahmar
Mosque into a bar and events hall! For that matter, why world was silent when
India turned Babri Mosque to a Hindu temple! #HagiaSophia
https://middleeastmonitor.com/20190411-israel-converts-historical-mosque-into-a-bar-and-events-hall/#.Xwy591cSc3A.twitter…
via
@MiddleEastMnt
Israel converts historical mosque into a bar and events hall
-----
The Israeli
municipality in Safed has turned Al-Ahmar Mosque into a bar and events hall,
Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported yesterday.
Here are a
few other examples that didn’t hit the radar.
Mosques in Spain have been turned into
churches, bars and nightclubs!
The Babri Mosque in India was destroyed by
Hindu fundamentalists and turned into a Hindu temple.
The Alhambra Palace Mosque in Granada was
converted to the Santa Maria cathedral.
Masjid Qasim Pasha has been changed to Saint
Michael cathedral.
The Jama Masjid of Qurtuba has been converted
to a cathedral.
Jama Masjid of Seville has been changed to the
Church of Marry.
I agree
that the two wrongs don’t make it right but you have to be fair and consistent.
Let us hope
that this incidence does not create a gulf between Muslims and Christians
around the globe and that Hagia Sophia will be open to Muslims and Non Muslim
tourists like it has been for a long time. For what it is worth, President
Erdogan has pledged to keep all the Christian relics and markings and that he
will leave it open to tourists of all faiths.
Original
Headline: Hagia Sophia’s Conversion to a Mosque and the Western Hypocrisy
Source: The Patheos
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/western-hypocrisy-hagia-sophias-conversion/d/122529