COVERED Edition 4 Issue 2 | Page 17

__________________________________________________________________________________ The features were changed inside and the mihrab, mimbar and four minarets were added. In 1931 the mosque was closed for four years and was re-opened to the public in 1935 as museum by the founder of modern Turkey Kemal Atatturk. Along the route to the mosque, we were enticed by the vendors who sold lovely bagels with chocolate filling. The Blue mosque stands next to another famous tourist site called the Hagi Sophia Mosque. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Empire under Mehmed the Conqueror, who ordered that the Orthodox church be converted into a mosque. The features were changed inside and the mihrab, mimbar and four minarets were added. In 1931 the mosque was closed for four years and was re-opened to the public in 1935 as museum by the founder of modern Turkey Kemal Atatturk. Rich in history, filled with Victory, Turkey bustles with colourful mystery. Our second day of arrival was set aside to visit the Topkapi Museum where the sacred relics associated with our Prophet (saw) and his companions were displayed. The famous Topkapi Museum was the official and primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul for approximately 400 years 624 years of reign. It was transformed into a museum in 1924. There are many rooms in the museum that housed precious items belonging to generations of Ottomans sultans and their families but our hearts were captured by the Pavilion of Sacred Trusts. It is here that we saw the display of the swords belonging to the four Caliphas and other companions of the Prophet (saw). We also saw the keys to the door of the kaabaah, an old casing of the black stone, a dress and prayer mat belonging to Hazrat Fatima RA, and much more