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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