Introduction

I have been traveling to Turkey for no less than 15 years; however, the most significant journey I undertook to the country was in 2017. In accompaniment with 35 reputable scholars and dignitaries, representing 20 different countries, we embarked on this journey with the sole aim of studying the various aspects of Turkish institutions and the methodology that underpinned them.

The trip was extremely enlightening and a memorable one, and it is my heartfelt desire that the valuable experience gathered in this journey is shared with the current generation.

The invitation for the journey came from the honourable Mr Muttalib - a man cherished and loved by many of the 500,000 strong Turkish community of the UK, and who is also the chairman of ‘Nida Trust’, a prestigious establishment based in London.

Our group comprised scholars from 35 countries, including Egypt, Syria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Somalia, Ghana, Nigeria, Turkey, Libya, Lebanon, Algeria, Kenya, Spain, Australia, and Scotland, among others.

On the afternoon of October 22nd, we departed from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul by Turkish Airlines, reaching the hotel in Istanbul around midnight.

Masjid of Abu Ayyub Ansari رضی الله عنه

On the morning of 23rd October, we headed for the Masjid of Abu Ayyub Ansari رضی الله عنه (named after the famous companion of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and reached there at 4.30am, two and a half hours earlier than the scheduled Fajr time (7am). To our surprise, even at this time of the morning, the mosque was teeming with worshippers. The ambience was absolutely breathtaking. People listened intently to the Imam who was reciting from various parts of the Qur’an. The religious fervour of the Turks assembled there was a sight to be seen; a thousand-strong congregation seated respectfully, silently absorbing the religious enunciations emanating from the pulpit.

As the Fajr Salah concluded, Mr. Muttalib introduced us to the Imam who expressed his delight on receiving us there.

It is customary for attendants of the mosque to pay a visit to the shrine of the Sahabi رضی الله عنه after Salah and respectfully stand there and recite the Qur’an. As guests, we were accorded special treatment whereby the gate of the enclosure was opened and we were given entry inside the tomb.

Topkapi museum

Following this, we returned to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we were driven to the famous Topkapi museum. The museum, to this day, preserves ancient relics (especially those associated with the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and his famous companions), such as weaponry and armour. We spent two hours perusing the one and a half millennium old artefacts that are an exclusive feature of this museum.

The Hagia Sophia

We then visited the ‘Aya Sofya’ (Hagia Sophia) - the largest religious centre of Turkey. This venue had remained the locus of the Christian establishment for over a thousand years. It was built around 80 years before the current Vatican Church. Following the liberation of Istanbul, this building remained the most important Islamic mosque and centre in the country for approximately 500 years. After the abolition of the caliphate, during the rule of Ataturk, this structure was converted into a museum. It had once been a sad sight (as I had personally seen this in my earlier travels to Turkey) to witness half-clad European women enter the sacred ground with their shoes and take photographs. But more recently, thanks to the current Islam-conscious regime, the building’s sanctity has been restored and its former structure and role reinstated, and that too with an improved look.

The Blue Mosque

Next, we visited the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, a structure whose beauty and build surpasses even the Aya Sofya. The Blue Mosque and the adjacent Hadith institute was built by Sultan Ahmed. The remarkable aspect of this construction is that the Sultan himself participated with the labourers in the building of it. Like the Aya Sofia, this building too underwent abandonment during the Ataturk era, but was more recently restored to its original state owing to the Islamic renaissance.

At its height of progress, the Hadith institute once boasted a dedicated teacher and mentor for every student. This ratio was lost a long time ago and now the building serves as a centre of specialisation in Hadith for graduates of Islamic learning from all over the country.

We partook our lunch here as per prior arrangement.

The Rustam Pasha Institute

In the evening we were taken to another historic centre of learning, named ‘Rustam Pasha’. The arrangement for the supper as well our overnight stay here was overwhelmingly impressive. This place functioned like a university in the 16th century under the Ottoman rule which was ransacked in the post-Ataturk era. It has now resumed its previous role and serves as a prestigious seminary for budding scholars and Imams.

Two students of the pioneer of the current Islamic revolution of Turkey, Shaikh Sa’id Nursiرحمة اللہ علیہ, are thankfully still alive, and we were fortunate to meet one of them, Shaikh Muhammad Fareehi. The shaikh acquainted us of his teacher’s ideology and methodology, and informed how the Shaikh stood like a bulwark against the Ataturk avalanche.

Contribution of Shaikh Sa'id Nursiرحمة اللہ علیہ

It is worthy of note that some scholars hailing from the Indian subcontinent attribute the current Turkish Islamic awakening to the work of the ‘Khanqaahs’ (monasteries or spiritual centres) of the Sufis. Suffice it to say that Shaikh Sa’id Nursi was though fundamentally a man of spiritual lineage himself (and having read the likes of ‘Maktubaat’ of Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindiرحمة اللہ علیہ, as well as spending a substantial part of his life among the notable people of ‘tasawwuf’), he was definitely not a stagnant preacher of Sufism. He was rather quite liberal, even stating that this age is primarily one of preservation of Iman and faith, and not of dogmatic pursuance of a conventional tariqah (any of the various spiritual schools of thought). He would state that affiliation to a tariqah is not essential for entry into Jannah, but Iman is.

Additionally, he said, “Faith and seerah (biography of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) are equivalent to staple food while the rituals and strivings of tasawwuf (Sufism) are more akin to pickles in a meal. It is logical that a person will only be nourished by the former and not the latter.

It is critical to understand the cause of the extraordinary revolution which the followers of Shaikh Sa'id Nursi were able to inspire. Mainly, the Sufism that they adhered to was not the intellectually stagnant and rigid form that has beset the Indian subcontinent for so long. For instance, Shaikh Nursi used to say:

“The conventional Sufis have failed to comprehend the intensity of trials and afflictions that prevail in the modern era, and neither are they equipped to deal with the challenges posed by such problems.”

It was undoubtedly an honour to meet the student of such a great luminary as Shaikh Nursi. The evening meal was arranged at the institute.

Two Major Universities of Istanbul

The next morning (24th October) we were scheduled to visit one of the largest and oldest universities in Istanbul. This grand university was certainly an impressive and remarkable site in all respects. We were greeted by a professor Murtaza, a specialist in the Hanafi school of thought and a notable student of the famous muhaddith (master of hadith) Shaikh Muhammad Ameen Aseerرحمة اللہ علیہ (who died 2 years ago). The shaikh has paid a visit to our Ebrahim College in London too.

Shaikh Murtaza shared with us, in great detail, the 600-year history and contribution of the university, particularly elucidating the trials and tribulations the faculties of theology and religion underwent during the Ataturk era. He explained how religious education was aggressively stamped out from the curriculum. He further mentioned how, with the support of the Islamic regime, the university has now revived those faculties and that now many of the serving Imams of the great mosques of Turkey were graduates of this university.

We were then taken to another equally important institute. This institute has been serving as a religious seminary from ancient times. It provides a 3-year specialised training programme for serving Imams and scholars (without any break in their salaries). There are two paths of specialisation offered: one in Qur’an and tajweed, and the other in other Islamic disciplines. The principal of the institute spoke to us for an hour, in the course of which he shed light on the objectives and accomplishments of the centre. This was followed by a question and answer session.

The Panorama Museum

After completing the tour here we headed out for the Panorama Museum. The highlight here is the theatre which projects a scene from the battle between the forces of Sultan Muhammad Fatih and the Roman Empire. This was a spectacular projection of the historic event and was as real as it can get on a screen.

Featuring thousands of soldiers in the backdrop of the medieval scenery, the spectacles transpose the viewer into the realm of history with an almost real-life experience of witnessing the clashing of two major world powers. The thundering cannons, the gigantic catapults hurling missiles, the humongous forts; every aspect of the whole display with its lurid details was a sensational and unforgettable experience. I believe every Muslim should visit this museum and experience this for themselves, as it is a means of reigniting the lost valour and faith of our illustrious forefathers.

The Roman City

We then visited the Roman City. One of the features here is a fort from the Roman times. Its imposing structure with its mammoth walls and gates are all preserved to this day, sparking a mental visual of the colossal power and monumental dimensions of the once great empire, which was laid to waste by the burning faith and passion of the 22-year-old Muhammad Fatih رحمة اللہ علیہ and his army.

Many thousands of tourists from the West pay a visit every day to this site which for them is a painful reminder of lost glory. Their sentiments, I believe, would be no different from those of a Muslim tourist visiting the Cordoba Mosque in Spain.

The Bosphorus

Our dinner was arranged at a restaurant situated on the banks of the Bosphorus River. The meal consisted of a large variety of savoury Turkish dishes.

Following the meal, we boarded a special pre-booked ferry to cruise through the Bosphorus. The spectacle aboard the ship was surreal, as it contrasted the Asian Istanbul on the one side, and the European Istanbul on the other. I doubt if any other river affords such a scenic and contrasting view of any city as the Bosphorus does here.

The Bosphorus connects the Asian and European seas and therefore its strategic position from a political and economic perspective is no less than the Suez Canal. However, after World War One, the Allies, especially Britain, imposed a stream of humiliating sanctions on Turkey - lasting a whole century - which included the prohibition of extracting any fuel or minerals from the ground and the imposition of taxes on passing vessels.

In 2024, the term of the treaty will have expired and Turkey will be delivered of these demeaning sanctions. This is already becoming a cause of concern for Western powers who feel Turkey may once again rise to its previous glory.

The view of the Bosphorus River was far more spectacular than the canals of Venice too. I am able to make the comparison as I have traveled to Venice too.

We were shown the bridge in the Bosphorus which in 2016 became the centre of global attention when rebel forces within Turkey, attempted a coup and brought the entire city to a standstill. Tayyip Erdogan has named the bridge after Sultan Suleiman al-Qanuni whose awe-inspiring conquests had infused terror within the Europeans.

There was also an arrangement of halal entertainment onboard the craft. A Turkish singer was hired for the purpose who melodiously sung nashids and verses describing the valiance and accomplishments of Turk conquerors.

The Issue of Halal Entertainment

To sidetrack a little on this issue, a few years ago, the renowned Turkish scholar and Sufi, Shaikh Mustafa had organised a conference on the great Indian scholar, Maulana Qasim Nanotwiرحمة اللہ علیہ. More than 300 scholars from across the world were invited, with VIP arrangements. Among these were Shaikh Saalim Qasimi, Shaikh Khalid Sayfullah Rahmani, Shaikh Salman al-Husaini, Dr. Saeed al-Rahman A’zami (principal of Nadwatul Ulama, India) and Shaikh Mufti Rafi’ Uthmani.

During the programme, some young artists sung nashids on stage. I noticed that some of the scholars present seemed to be visibly disturbed by this. One scholar who was sitting beside me turned to me and asked, “Is this permissible?” To which I replied, “Of course! Islam has undoubtedly allowed entertainment which remains within the bounds of Shari’ah.

“In the Prophetic era, on the occasions of marriages, receptions and Eid, recitation of poetry in accompaniment with tambourines was not uncommon. Such practices have also been a part of Sufi gatherings across the board. In African countries, for instance, dhikr is sung to the rhythm of tambourines too.”

In response to this explanation of mine, he remarked, “But what about our akaabireen (senior scholars)?”

To this I responded, “Listen, if your akabireen lacked the basic human feelings and emotions, then the flaw is with them. Only the Deen of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and his companions can thrive in this world, not the Deen of our respective akabireen, whoever they may be.

“In recent times, for instance, some emerging traditional powers, failed as a result of following the dogmatic and prescriptive pronouncements of whom they considered to be their seniors and akabireen, rather than someone of the intellectual calibre of Shaikh Sa’id Nursi. And these akabireen of theirs were bereft of even the fundamentals of worldly disciplines, such as economics, politics and current forms of media.

“Their mental faculties were sedated with dreams and interpretations; hence they were unable to grasp the current challenges posed by the modern world. These poor souls were not even able to present their own position to the world through the basic use of media, like what Turkey is doing now.”

After the tour of the Bosphorus, we retired at the hotel at around midnight.

Imam Hatib school

On the morning of 24th October our group was taken to the Imam Hatib school (aka, Madrasatul A’immah wal Khutaba). Though there are approximately a hundred seminaries in Turkey for the education and training of Imams and scholars, this particular institute is by far the most distinguished of all. The purpose of the institute is to prepare such scholars who, in addition to excelling in Islamic sciences, are adequately equipped in secular disciplines too. This is so that they are able to confidently face any challenges modern society throws at them, and, if and when required, assume governmental positions too.

The institute accepts applications from those students only who have attained full grades from secondary schools. And even from these a tiny minority is selected. This maximises the output of the students. As an example, we spoke to a student who had come from a small village only four months ago, but his standard of Arabic (mostly acquired within this short period) left us all spellbound.

A sumptuous breakfast had been organised for us at the Imam Hatib institute.

Ibn Khaldun University

Following breakfast, we set off for the recently opened Ibn Khaldun University. I was also present at its inauguration ceremony with a delegation from Ebrahim Community College, London. On the occasion, around 40 globally renowned scholars presented papers on the thoughts and philosophy of Allamah Ibn Khaldun رحمة اللہ علیہ.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Rajab greeted our delegation here. Professor Rajab is a leading thinker and researcher and had graced us previously at the Ebrahim College (London) too. His memorable words on the visit were: “At the onset of the 20th century Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwiرحمة اللہ علیہ presented his monumental work ‘The impact of the rise and fall of Muslims on the world at large’. Now in the 21st century, Islamic thinkers need to produce something that highlights the need for the world to adopt the Qur'an and Islamic teachings in order to progress at all fronts.”

At Ibn Khaldun University, upon a personal enquiry of an individual about his affiliation, Professor Rajab commented, “I consider myself as aligned to the Deeni school of thought of the (late) Dr. Mustafa Azami, who had been my teacher in the USA, and intellectually I describe myself as a Nadwi as I have been an avid reader of the works of Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi since childhood, which has been instrumental in shaping my thinking and philosophy.”

Professor Rajab delivered an intellectually powerful and highly enlightening speech wherein he expounded the academic and intellectual history of the Muslims.

A lavish meal had been prepared for the afternoon at Ibn Khaldun University.

At the Syrian Refugee Centre

Following this, our group was led to the Syrian Refugee Centre, where a large group of Syrian men, women and children were housed with dignity and respect. It is worthy of note that Turkey has taken in over 3 million Syrian refugees. These refugees have all been granted Turkish nationality with all accompanying rights and privileges. Through our random meetings with these refugees, we learnt that they were not only being hosted here but were also being educated and intellectually trained. Many of these Syrians are now studying at the top Turkish colleges and universities, and the children attending primary and secondary schools. This in the hope that they will take up high positions once they return to their country.

Those who were not academically driven were being trained in technical fields such as electronics and mechanics. Furthermore, in order not to cause any hurt, they are not even referred to as ‘refugees’ but with the titles of ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’. No undignifying title or label is allowed in reference to these refugees.

We offered Asr at the centre and immediately left for Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

Mr. Muttalib had arranged for a high-end luxury coach for the airport journeys both ways. En route we enjoyed short lectures on various academic subjects from the erudite scholars accompanying us. Systematic dhikr and supplications became a constant pattern of the journeys, something I had not witnessed anywhere apart from the Tablighi Jama’ah.

To Ankara

We reached Ankara at around 12pm. Ankara had been designated the capital in the days of Ataturk. He promoted Ankara in response to the resistance and opposition he faced in Istanbul from Islamic scholars and sympathisers. He had amassed people of his own ilk (secular and anti-religious) in Ankara in order to propagate his theories and to advance his mission from there.

Ankara is a clean and beautiful city. We lodged at a five-star hotel and spent the night there. Fajr was performed at an exceedingly elegant mosque near the hotel. Nowadays such mosques are sprouting across the length and breadth of the country.

Shaikh Yunus Emre Institute

Today (25th October) was reserved for the visit of ‘Shaikh Yunus Emre’ Institute. This is a large educational and cultural institute of Turkey, which, like the British Council, endeavours to promote Turkish culture in its people throughout the world. It should be remembered that the combined Turkish diaspora in America, Australia and Europe reaches many millions. The primary objective of this organisation is to endeavour to preserve the roots of the Turks with their country, and with the Islamic renaissance taking place in Turkey, it is safe to say that the purpose of the organisation is to promote an Islamic ethos too.

In short, the organisation strives to develop both nationalistic and Islamic spirit and character across the Turkish diaspora spanning the globe, including South Asia and Eastern Europe.

The organisation works among Turkish minorities all over the world, including Western countries, the Indian subcontinent, and especially in the Balkan states of Eastern Europe. The organisation plays a vital role in keeping the population connected with Turkish and Islamic civilisation in countries such as Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, etc. Eastern Europe was a part of the Ottoman caliphate for centuries.

Yunus Emre Institute was among the three organisations which bore the cost of our trip here.

At the Ministry of Religious Affairs

We were then taken to the Ministry of Religious Affairs where we had breakfast. We met the honourable Minister and other senior officials here and shared our thoughts and concerns. At every juncture, we were presented with gifts and literature. Such conduct is no doubt in agreement with the greatest of Islamic empires.

Finishing from here, we returned to our hotel (situated a mile away from the Presidential Palace in Ankara). This area is considered the most elite in Ankara. We offered prayers in the same mosque where President Tayyip Erdogan usually offers his Jumu’ah prayers. At that particular moment, however, he was out of town.

At the same hotel around 11am Prof. Mohammad Gourmez Hiran, former Minister of Religious Affairs, delivered a speech. He had spent his entire life teaching Hadith at an advanced level. Being highly proficient in Arabic, he spoke with the eloquence of a native speaker. Rarely have I heard a speech that was so comprehensive in import. It was as if we were taken back to the era of the pious predecessors.

Prof. Mohammad Gourmez is among the distinguished students of the renowned Syrian muhaddith (teacher of Hadith) Shaikh Muhammad Ameenرحمة اللہ علیہ, who was an eminent scholar from the latter phase of the Ottoman Caliphate. Prof. Mohammad Gourmez’s enlightening presentation was undoubtedly the most precious gift of the entire trip. The concise yet overarching speech covered many challenges of the last century. In particular, he presented an excellent analysis of the intellectual and cultural onslaught of the West and presented solutions in light of the Qur’an and Hadith. He cited references of his meetings with eminent Saudi scholars and explained what he understood to be the reasons why some modern scholars were so averse to ihsaan and tasawwuf. He mentioned that without these essential and fundamental aspects of Deen, the life of a Believer was deficient and lacking, and Deen “became a mere amalgam of lifeless rituals and practices”. The speech which lasted for an hour and a half left us all wondering whether we had ever witnessed such an edifying and informative exposition on such critical matters from an Islamic perspective.

All in all, this was an amazing opportunity to observe the various domains and ministries of the current Turkish government and meet its senior ranking officials.

Compared to our previous trips there were many more scholars and officials in the various governmental departments and institutions proficient in Arabic and English.

Lunch was served at a traditional restaurant housed in a magnificent fort that sat atop the summit of a mountain. This is a 4 thousand-year-old Roman fort that features a museum containing ancient Roman artefacts. Lunch here was no less than a royal feast. The restaurant overlooks the entire city of Ankara.

We offered the Zuhr prayer at the Millat Jami’ Mosque which is adjacent to the presidential palace. The mosque is a breathtaking spectacle of a modern and majestic construction which typifies the current development projects throughout the country. It was also a refreshing reminder of how the new generation of Turks were not far behind their ancestors.

A visit was also made to a nearby mosque (financed by Shaikh Emre Yunus himself). This building also symbolised the splendour and elegance of what now has become the hallmark of Turkey’s constructions.

Visits to Various Centres and Organisations in Ankara

On 26th October at 9.30 am we were scheduled to attend an event at an organisation originally established to acquaint and associate the Turkish diaspora with the Turkish caliphate. Its goal was to strengthen and consolidate cultural ties of Turks within countries with a large Turkish presence. The president of the organisation, Dr. Muhammad Kosh, an able and competent young man himself, had gathered select members for this meeting. He spent an hour and a half introducing the organisation and highlighting its contributions and achievements.

Throughout this journey, we felt a sense of belonging and community that prevailed at all levels. We also witnessed the qualities of dedication, diligence and humility in all those we visited and wherever we went.

The arrangement of all programmes was almost uniform; approximately one and a half hours of interaction covering a presentation followed by questions and answers.

We then visited an organisation that exists to provide relief and humanitarian services to people affected by disasters (natural or man-made). The services are offered on a global scale and without any discrimination of any kind. We were given a presentation which projected scenes from various countries via a live feed. What the organisation had achieved thus far was certainly an accomplishment of monumental proportions.

As an example, more recently, around 300 injured people - victims of a stream of explosions - were flown in from Somalia. These individuals were being treated at an excellent medical facility here. A few members of our team, including Shaikh Muhammad Amehi from Bolton, UK, had visited the victims of the attack.

Lastly, we were introduced to another organisation in Ankara, which is dedicated to the economic welfare of the impoverished and underprivileged around the world. Again, through a live feed, we were shown the operations of the organisation in various countries, including Europe and the less affluent countries of Africa. The services rendered here too are done so without discrimination and remuneration of any kind. The director of the organisation Mr. Muhammad briefed us on the role of the institution as well as shedding light on the need of humanitarian work from a religious perspective.

Unfortunately, the religious section within the Indian subcontinent is lagging far behind in this area.

The number of officials at every institution we visited were always more in number than the members of our delegation. At every occasion, the opportunity to raise questions and seek clarifications was given and the time for this was equal to that of the presentation. We were genuinely surprised as to how Turkey had, in such a short period of time, established such world-class organisations that were delivering such outstanding services. It would truly be a wish fulfilled if religious groups from Muslim countries, especially the Indian subcontinent, took a leaf from the work and expertise of Turkish organisations and created similar establishments in their own countries.

At the Political Headquarters of the Ruling Party

For the final programme in Ankara, we were led to the headquarters of the current ruling party to observe and examine its political operations and processes. We were received by the Vice President of the country and his political associates. The unassuming appearance and simplicity of the Vice President as well as all the other senior officials there was nothing less than remarkable.

The Vice President’s speech focused on Islamic politics vis-a-vis secular politics, comparing the Laws of Allah against man-made laws.

In addition to the hospitality displayed, the hosts also offered us valuable gifts on our departure.

We offered Asr prayer in the ‘Diyanet Mosque”, built by the former minister for religious affairs, Shaikh Muhammad Emri. The basement of the mosque was double the size of the ground floor and contained an extensive parking lot, high-quality washroom and wudu facilities, and a crèche with dedicated staff.

Return to Istanbul

From here we left for Istanbul. We offered Maghrib and Isha prayers en route at a service station, reaching the hotel in Istanbul at midnight.

27th October was a Friday. The exhaustion from the travels and visits of an entire week disallowed any major engagements, and so today was reserved for some relaxation and Jumu’ah preparations. Fellow group members offered Jumu’ah prayer at various mosques nearby.

Bosphorus Banquet

After Asr prayer we were invited to a banquet at a restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus river and dock. This invitation was from the mayor of Istanbul and was attended by eminent government officials and representatives. The fort which housed the restaurant had served as a prominent conference centre of the Ottoman Caliphate. The event lasted around five hours and seemed more like a farewell reception. The event featured talks which shed light on the history of Istanbul, the speed at which Turkey was progressing and future projects and plans. On departure, we were presented with (academic and historical) gifts.

The event was truly outstanding in all respects. An event of such distinction and calibre is unthinkable in many Muslim countries. Just this event alone shone much light on the exceptional qualities and abilities of the current ruling party and its personnel.

This programme was the essence of our entire trip. Various representatives of the government were present and gave us all a warm reception. The speeches were conducted in Arabic, Turkish and English with instant translation provided via individual earpieces.

The love, warmth and sincerity of the Turks can never be forgotten. Parting gifts were also offered by Nida Trust representatives (the organisers of this trip).

Return to the UK

We reached our hotel at midnight. Having rested for about 3 hours, we left for the airport at 4am the next morning. We offered Fajr prayer at the airport.

Istanbul airport is undoubtedly among the busiest in the world and epitomises perfection in architecture, management and cleanliness.

The flight left at 11am and touched down at London Heathrow at 2pm. In London, we had our final lunch together at a fine restaurant, bade an emotional farewell to one another and left for our homes.

Though I have travelled frequently and extensively, I do not recall such a memorable journey, as the entire trip was spent in accompaniment with leading scholars of the world. The reality is that today’s young intellectuals who aspire towards the restoration of the glorious past of Islam and the unity of Ummah, look upon Turkey as the sole means of manifestation of their dreams.

Turkey: an Ideal Place of Residence

I recall an incident from a few years back when a prominent personality from Bangladesh had visited London. During a conversation he asked Shaikh Mushfiq (principal of Ebrahim College, London) whether he was a Bangladeshi. Shaikh Mushfiq replied, “I like to be identified as a Muslim only”. The person, somewhat exasperated by this answer, remarked, “It’s all very well saying this now but when you grow older you will inevitably wind up in Bangladesh”. To which Shaikh Mushfiq said, “Insha’Allah I will want to spend the latter years of my life in Turkey, and I have initiated arrangements for this already.” When asked why, he said, “I see a certain sparkle in the eyes of the Turks; a sparkle that heralds a new renaissance. Something I do not see anywhere else”.

For this very reason many of my associates in London have already purchased properties in Turkey and plan to migrate there.

Dr. Mahmood Ghazi once said, “In today’s age the best place for a Muslim to spend his final years of life is Turkey.”

I personally feel much attached to the country too and am seriously considering moving there myself.

Nida Trust

Finally, a few things about the Nida Trust. Nida Trust is a large welfare organisation of nearly 500,000 Turks living in the UK. It aims to help the Muslims in the UK improve in their educational development, economic prosperity and promote unity within the Ummah, transcending all sectarian barriers.

The chairman of the organisation is Mr. Muttalib (former Speaker of the London borough of Hackney); a man of admirable qualities and a charming personality. Vice-Chairman, Mr. Khalid (of Pakistani origin) is a prosperous and philanthropic businessman who had originally donated land for Ebrahim College too. The senior manager of Nida Trust is Mr. Faiz Ali (originally from Bangladesh), who runs a prestigious school in the borough of Hackney.

The trustees of Nida Trust hail from different communities and are all professionals (lawyers, doctors and businessmen) and with background and expertise in education. Shaikh Bilal from Ebrahim College is also one of the trustees there.

The principal objective of the Trust is to concentrate on educational issues of the Muslim institutes of the UK. It strives to provide assistance and guidance to teachers and students (such as provision of modern infrastructure, etc.) and impart religious and moral training to develop an Islamic zeal alongside the spirit of philanthropy. In order to achieve this, the Trust concentrates on youth - typically between the ages of 16 and 20 - and endeavours to develop the qualities of leadership within them. It also prepares the teachers of makatib (Islamic supplementary schools) academically and intellectually for better teaching and disciplining of the younger generation.

In 2016, for instance, the Trust led a group of principals from 50 schools to Turkey for a tour of the higher educational institutions there. The group engaged in discussions with their counterparts as well as higher-ranking officials and sought guidance and training. Upon return, they found a marked improvement in their own performance as they applied new principles and adopted innovative teaching methods.

The Spirit of Turkey's Founders

Turkey has always been at the forefront when it comes to the development of Islamic culture and ethos. Accordingly, the founder of the Ottoman Caliphate, Osman Khan’s parting words were:

“Be mindful of Allah and fear Him at all times and at every juncture. Make Qur’an and Sunnah your guiding principles; strive for the propagation of Islam and never deviate from its tenets.

“I implore my beloved people, and especially the younger generation, never to abandon striving in the Path of Allah for the propagation of Islam and to keep the banner of Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم upheld at all times.

“I beseech them to promote and propagate tawhid (the message of the oneness of God) throughout the world. Whoever among you leaves the path of truth, engages in any form of oppression, and forsakes the obligation of jihad, I pray to Allah the Almighty that he be deprived of the intercession of the Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم on the Day of Judgement.”

[The Rise and Fall of Muslims, Urdu - By Maulana Saeed Ahmad]

History bears witness to the fact that the descendants of Osman Khan invariably followed through with his advice. As an example, prior to engaging in the decisive battle against the Europeans in Kosovo, Sultan Murad, grandson of Osman Khan, supplicated to Allah in the following words:

“O Allah! I beg your mercy to accept my sacrifice on behalf of all Muslims. I ask you not to make me the cause of the death of any Muslim in a path other than the path of truth and justice. My Lord! If my martyrdom leads to the success and victory of the Muslim army then do not deprive me of martyrdom in your blessed path, and what a blessed and great path it is!”

The Sultan cried making this supplication throughout the night, and through the blessings of his supplication his army marched in triumph the following day, but the Sultan himself had fallen a martyr in the battlefield.

[Islamic Revivalist Movements, By Sayyid Qasim Mahmud. P. 804, Urdu)

When Sultan Murad’s grandson Sultan Muhammad Fatih laid siege to the City of Trabzon, the elderly mother of the ruler of Trabzon approached the Sultan and said, “O my son, Why do you risk your life and army for the sake of one city when you are able to construct many similar and more beautiful cities such as this?"

The Sultan replied thus:

“Dear mother, we do not risk lives for a city; we merely sacrifice them for the Divine cause - the cause of truth and justice - so that when we face Allah on the Day of Judgement, our heads are held high and not hung in humiliation and shame. These swords that we wield in our hands are not there for pomp and pride, rather for the noble cause of truth and justice. Dear mother, do you think we could reach the heights of sublimity and the ranks of mujahidin without offering any sacrifice?”

[Ibid, P. 805]

Sultan Muhammad Fatih’s advice to his son Bayezid yildirim was as follows:

“O my son, strive in the mission of propagating Islam and ensure that the Word of Allah remains supreme and uppermost. Never show neglect in matters of Deen. Keep a distance from those who are indifferent and unsympathetic to Deen. Refrain from making innovations in religion and engaging in abomination of any form. Associate yourself with the righteous scholars and keep them at close quarters. Never violate the laws of Shariah and hold firmly to Deen as therein lies the secret of our success.”

[Ibid, P. 805]

The Ottoman Caliphate thus fulfilled its obligation of preserving Islam and complying with the tenets of Shariah. No doubt some failings and flaws did creep in later on, but until 1924 C.E., the State was run strictly in conformity with a particular fiqh (codified system of Islamic law, which in this case was the Hanafi fiqh). And notwithstanding all the attempts by Ataturk to infuse irreligion and godlessness into Turkish society, many decades on, however, Turkey is undergoing an Islamic revival that has been inspired by a renewed passion among the Turks.

These few words were presented to stress the point to our younger generation that the culture and civilisation of the Turks, as well as their collective disposition and character, is truly modelled on Islamic values.

(Maulana) Muhammad Isa Mansuri,

Chairman of World Islamic Forum (London)

September 2019