World Big NEWS: Arranging Taraweeh 88 years later at the historic Aya Sofia Mosque in Turkey

After 88 years, Muslims have expressed happiness over the arrangement of Taraweeh prayers at the historic Aya Sofia Mosque in Istanbul, Turk...

After 88 years, Muslims have expressed happiness over the arrangement of Taraweeh prayers at the historic Aya Sofia Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, an Islamic country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

 

The first Taraweeh took place on April 1 at the historic Aya Sofia Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

According to the Turkish news agency Anatolia Agency (AA), the first Taraweeh prayer after 88 years was offered at the Sofia Mosque on the first of Ramadan.

A large number of worshipers attended the Taraweeh prayers at the historic mosque almost nine decades later, most of whom had also been vaccinated against corona.

 

People also wore face masks as a precaution against Corona.

The Sofia Mosque was restored 86 years later in 2020, but since then, due to Corona, restrictions have been imposed there and Taraweeh could not be arranged there last year. 

 

The first Taraweeh after 88 years was performed there on April 1. Photo: Daily Sabah / DHA

 

This time, after a significant reduction in Corona cases in Turkey, 88 years later, Taraweeh prayers were held at the Aya Sofia Mosque, which was attended by elderly, young and young worshipers.

While Taraweeh prayers have been arranged in the Sofia Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, several other religious gatherings will also be held there during the holy month.

 

After the epidemic, prayers were offered in Sofia Mosque without corona restrictions. Photo: Daily Sabah / DHA

The building had been closed for several years before the restoration of the Sofia Mosque two years ago, but in July 2020, a Turkish court allowed the building to be used as a place of worship.

Following a court order, the Turkish government restored a mosque there, and on July 24, 2020, for the first time in 86 years, the call to prayer was heard and prayers were offered.

 

Older worshipers including youth also participated in Taraweeh. Photo: Daily Sabah / DHA

The historic building was used as a Byzantine church for 900 years before 1453, and was converted into a mosque by the Ottoman kings.

The Aya Sofia building was later converted into a museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatrk in 1934, and was later closed for some time.

After the coming of Rajab Tayyip Erdogan government, legal work was started for the restoration of the mosque in the said historical building and thus in July 2020, after 86 years, the mosque was restored in the historic building.