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My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia

Turkey, a literal bridge between East and West, is a nation born out of various civilizations, including the Christian Byzantine empire and then the Muslim Ottoman empire.  

Some years ago, a friend and her fiancé decided on a destination wedding. After visiting the country previously, her dream was to marry at the world famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

While the main wedding function was held at the Ciragan Palace, a former Ottoman palace along the Bosporus, the ‘nikah’ took place within the Blue Mosque.

📚 Read Also: Inside the Majestic Hagia Sofia

My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
My Journey to the Ever-Evolving Hagia Sofia - About Islam
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Blue Mosque Imam Beginning Nikaah
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Blue Mosque Imam Beginning Nikaah
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As we left for photos in the park by the mosque, we found ourselves facing Hagia Sofia, standing on the other side of the street.

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Originally built in 537, for nearly a thousand years, the cathedral was the jewel in the crown of the Christian world.

In 1453, after the Ottoman Empire conquered the city, Muhammad Al-Fatih converted the building into a Mosque.

It wasn’t till over a hundred years later, 1609, that the Blue Mosque was completed, creating two unique properties, side by side, showcasing the spiritual creativity of two of the world’s great faiths: Christianity and Islam.

Between the two buildings there is a park from which both show up in their respective glory.

However, the best view to capture the experience is from a rooftop restaurant at the Seven Hills hotel. As our group of friends broke into smaller groups who went off sightseeing, I ended up there for dinner just before sunset. 

As we dined while the sun began to descent, the call to prayer came from one direction, then the call to prayer came from another direction, Blue Mosque on one side, Hagia Sofia on the other. This spiritual crescendo filled the air with an uplifting emotional experience.

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About Farrukh Younus
Farrukh I Younus has a background in mobile phone strategy across Europe and Asia, and has visited China on more than 25 occasions. Dedicated to understanding and delivering solutions based on new technology, Younus has spoken on the subject to the EU in Brussels, and regularly attends industry-leading conferences. He currently runs a video platform, Implausibleblog, delivering lifestyle content via social media; where his focus is on understanding consumer behaviour with regards to digital content and digital advertising. His interests include travel, nouvelle cuisine, and chocolate.