CoRDoBa: CiTY oF LiGHTS

Artikel tentang kota Cordoba ini sebenarnya sudah lama aku tulis. Tujuan aku menulis artikel ini adalah untuk disiarkan di website sebuah persatuan pelajar Islam di Ireland. Akan tetapi, aku sendiri tidak pasti apa sudah jadi dengan website tersebut. Oleh itu, daripada terbuang begitu sahaja, lebih baik aku publish artikel ini di blog aku sendiri. Selamat membaca. Semoga artikel ini dapat memberi informasi yang berguna.

Cordoba is a city with one of the most extensive historical heritages in the world & was declared as one of 'UNESCO World Heritage Sites' in the year 1984. This city is located in the region of Andalusia, Spain. It was founded by the Romans. Then, it was settled by the Vandals and Visigoths until the arrival of Muslim Moors in the year 711.


Map showing the location of Cordoba in Spain
According to history, after the Umayyad Caliphate with Damascus as its capital city had been overthrown by Abbasid Caliphate with Baghdad as its capital city in the year 750, the continuity of the Umayyad Caliphate was carried on in the city of Cordoba with the arrival of Abdul Rahman I, the last prince of Umayyad Caliphate in this city. He was the only one who had survived from the mass murder of his family in Damascus. He then became the person who developed the city of Cordoba. He promised to himself to return the glory of his former empire in this city. Cordoba will be the great rival of the city of Baghdad.

In the 10th century, Cordoba had reached its golden age under the rule of 3 renowned rulers which are Abdul Rahman III (912-961), Al-Hakam II (961-976) and Al-Mansur (981-1002). Cordoba had become the capital city of Islamic Empire in Spain at that time and it was the second largest city in the continent of Europe, after Constantinople. The residents of Cordoba lived in proper houses made of bricks, while people in other part of Europe still lived in wooden houses and still suffered from the tensions from the Church and feudalism. There were also lamp posts alongside the roads making the city looked lively at night. In the city itself, there were 600 mosques, 900 bath houses, 50 hospitals & countless markets. The city nevertheless fell into the hands of Christian rulers in the year 1236.


Map showing Cordoba as the capital city of Islamic Empire in Spain
The most famous site in Cordoba is of course the magnificient Mezquita. Mezquita in Spanish means Mosque. It was indeed the most magnificent mosque in the history of Islam in Andalusia. It was erected during the era of Abdul Rahman I in the year 785, on the site where a church called St Vincent was once stood. Mezquita at that time was the second largest mosque in the world after Masjidil Haram in Mecca. After the era of Abdul Rahman I, other caliphs such as Abdul Rahman III & Al-Hakam II had made several increments to the mosque. Abdul Rahman III had made a new minaret, while Al-Hakam II had added more decorations on the mihrab. The last touch was done by Al-Mansur in 987.

However, starting from 1236, after the fall of Cordoba into the hands of Christian rulers, Mezquita’s function as a mosque had been changed into a church. In 16th century, the central part of this mosque was torn down for the construction of a new cathedral. The minaret also had been torn down for the construction of a new bell tower called Torre del Aminar. It is indeed very heartbreaking just to think of these whole stories. How easily this glorious mosque was disgraced with the construction of a cathedral in the middle of it which is actually still in use even until today by the Christian followers. Let us pray so that one day this glorious mosque will be returned back to its right owners, the Muslims.

The entrance ticket to get inside the mosque costs only 10 Euro. It is not that expensive. The interior of the mosque is absolutely stunning. The granite columns and the jasper and marble arches with the alternate red and white colour made the interior view looked so spectacular. There is also lots of calligraphy of Quranic verses inside the mosque which makes it more peaceful. It is sad however to realise that this beautiful mosque doesn’t belong to Muslims anymore after it had fallen into the hands of the Christian rulers and had been changed into a cathedral. Muslims these days are not permitted to pray inside the mosque though there are many petitions signed to allow Muslims to do so since many years ago.


Mezquita


Interior of Mezquita


Interior of Mezquita


Mihrab of Mezquita


The cathedral built inside Mezquita


The cathedral built inside Mezquita


Torre del Aminar of Mezquita
Not far from Mezquita is Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. Initially, it was the Visigoths’ fortress. Following the conquest of Islam in Andalusia, a new palace was built here on the same spot & it became the palace of Muslim rulers in Cordoba. However, in the year 1386, few years after the fall of Cordoba into the hands of Christian rulers, Alfonsi XI destroyed almost half of the palace and built a new one by the order of a Christian ruler at that time. Around the end of 15th century, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos was occupied by Ferdinand II and Isabella during their progress to conquer Granada from Muslim ruler named Abu Abdullah. Abu Abdullah was said to be imprisoned here when he was forced to hand over Granada to Ferdinand II and Isabella. In 1492, the year Granada fell into their hands, they met Christopher Columbus in this palace as he prepared to take his first voyage to the Americas.


Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos


Inside Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
A few meters from Mezquita, there is a bridge that stands crossing the Guadalquivir River, connecting Old Town and Torre de la Calahorra. This bridge actually had existed since the Roman Empire period. That is why it is called Roman Bridge. After the Roman Empire had ended, the bridge had been abandoned and finally it had collapsed. It was until the period of Abdul Rahman I, when he ordered the bridge to be rebuilt. Torre de la Calahorra was built in 14th century and was once a military tower. It is now functioning as a museum exhibiting the intellectual achievement of Muslims in Cordoba.


Roman Bridge & Mezquita


Roman Bridge & Torre de la Calahorra


Torre de la Calahorra
Another must visit site in Cordoba is Medina Az-Zahra, which is situated 5 kilometers from the city centre. It was the palace of Muslim rulers from the year 940 until 1010. It was built during the rule of Abdul Rahman III. In the year 1010, this palace was burnt down and destroyed by the Muslims from North Africa, the extremists who felt that Muslim rulers during those days were becoming too liberal. What remains today on the site is only 10% of the original palace. This palace was actually found in 1911, after had been forgotten for almost 900 years.


Medina Az-Zahra
So, those are a few things about Cordoba, the city that used to be the most advanced city in the whole Europe during its golden era. It is indeed a must-go city.

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iSTaNBuL: CiTY oF a THouSaND MoSQueS

Istanbul adalah bandar yg terbesar di negara Turki & merupakan bandar yg ke-3 terbesar di dunia berdasarkan jumlah populasi penduduk (11 juta org penduduk) selepas Mumbai & Karachi. Ianya juga adalah satu-satunya bandar di dunia yg terletak di antara dua benua iaitu Eropah & Asia dgn dipisahkan oleh Selat Bosphorus. Bandar ini diasaskan pada tahun 667SM. Nama asalnya adalah Byzantium. Ia kemudiannya ditakluki oleh Empayar Rom pd tahun 196M & dijadikan pusat pemerintahan baru empayar tersebut pd tahun 330M selepas pemelukan agama Kristian oleh empayar itu. Namanya ditukar menjadi Constantinople, bersempena dgn nama Maharaja Rom yg bernama Constantine I yg bertanggungjawab memindahkan pusat pemerintahan Empayar Rom dari Rom ke Constantinople.


Peta kedudukan Istanbul di dalam Turki


Peta Istanbul
Bandar ini kemudiannya menjadi pusat pemerintahan Empayar Rom Timur (Byzantine) selepas perpecahan empayar tersebut kepada Rom Timur & Rom Barat. Perpecahan ini mengakibatkan lahirnya 2 mazhab Kristian yg terbesar iaitu mazhab Roman Katholik yg dianuti oleh penduduk-penduduk Empayar Rom Barat & mazhab Greek Orthodox oleh penduduk-penduduk Empayar Byzantine. Namun, Empayar Rom Barat akhirnya lenyap akibat diserang oleh orang-orang Visigoth. Empayar Byzantine terselamat & ianya terus mengecapi kegemilangan dgn berpusatkan Constantinople sbg ibu kotanya.


Peta Rom Barat & Rom Timur (Byzantine)
Walau bagaimanapun, lama-kelamaan, Empayar Byzantine menjadi semakin lemah. Dari sehari ke sehari, bandar-bandar utama empayar tersebut seperti Prussa (Bursa), Nicomedia (Izmit), Gallipoli & Adrianople (Edirne) jatuh ke tangan kuasa baru yg muncul dari Timur Anatolia iaitu Turki Uthmaniyah. Dan akhirnya, satu-satunya sisa tanah Empayar Byzantine yg masih tinggal hanyalah ibu kotanya sahaja, iaitu Constantinople. Usaha untuk menawan kota tersebut oleh umat Islam sebenarnya telah dilakukan berkali-kali selama 800 tahun, iaitu sejak zaman Bani Umayyah lagi. Ini kerana Rasulullah SAW pernah bersabda dalam sebuah hadis yg berbunyi "Sesungguhnya, umatku akan menawan kota Constantinople. Pemimpinnya adalah sebaik-baik pemimpin & tenteranya adalah sebaik-baik tentera."

Namun, segala usaha untuk menawan kota tersebut semuanya menemui kegagalan sehinggalah pada tahun 1453M, sewaktu Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah berada di bawah pemerintahan seorang Sultan yg baru sahaja berusia 21 tahun, tetapi mempunyai akal & wawasan yg tinggi. Baginda tidak lain & tidak bukan, Sultan Mehmet II atau lebih dikenali sebagai Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih. Baginda adalah antara Sultan Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah yang teragung kerana kejayaannya & tenteranya menawan kota Constantinople. Selepas 53 hari bertempur bersama tenteranya, akhirnya kota Constantinople berjaya ditawan pada tarikh 29 May 1453M. Penawanan kota tersebut secara langsung menamatkan riwayat Empayar Byzantine yang pada waktu itu sudah pun berusia 1,100 tahun. Constantine XI merupakan Maharaja zalim yang memerintah pada waktu tersebut & merupakan Maharaja Empayar Byzantine yang terakhir sebelum jatuhnya kota Constantinople ke tangan Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah.


Peta pembesaran Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah dari tahun 1299 hingga tahun 1683


Potret Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih
Sejurus selepas penawanan Constantinople, Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih menukarkan namanya kepada Islambul (yg bermaksud kota Islam dalam Bahasa Turki). Aku pun tidak pasti bagaimana nama Islambul boleh bertukar menjadi Istanbul. Bandar ini kemudiannya dijadikan pusat pemerintahan baru Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah selepas Bursa & Edirne. Kita sebagai umat Islam patut berbangga atas kejayaan yg dicapai oleh Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih & tenteranya. Taktik peperangan yang digunakan untuk menawan kota tersebut adalah antara taktik-taktik peperangan yang paling bijak & menggemparkan dalam sejarah dunia. Alatan-alatan peperangan yang digunakan juga merupakan alatan-alatan peperangan yang paling canggih pada zaman tersebut yang mampu menggerunkan mana-mana pihak musuh. Maka dengan ini, bagindalah yg berjaya merealisasikan hadis Rasulullah SAW. Sesungguhnya, baginda adalah sebaik-baik pemimpin & tenteranya adalah sebaik-baik tentera.

Selepas kota Istanbul berjaya ditawan, antara perkara pertama yang dilakukan oleh Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih ialah menukar fungsi gereja Hagia Sophia menjadi masjid. Gereja Hagia Sophia merupakan pusat kepada agama Kristian mazhab Greek Orthodox. Ianya setaraf dengan St Peter's Basilica di Vatican City yang merupakan pusat kepada agama Kristian mazhab Roman Katholik. Hagia Sophia siap dibina pada tahun 537M sewaktu pemerintahan Maharaja yang bernama Justinian I. Keindahan senibinanya menjadikannya sebagai bangunan yang paling masyhur di seluruh rantau Mediterranean ketika zaman kegemilangan Empayar Byzantine. Strukturnya masih kukuh sehingga ke hari ini walaupun usianya hampir menjangkau 1,500 tahun.

Selepas penukaran fungsi gereja Hagia Sophia menjadi masjid, Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih telah berkata, "Barangsiapa yang menukar masjid Hagia Sophia itu kembali kepada gereja, maka akan berolehlah baginya kutukan & laknat dariku & dari Tuhan Masjid Hagia Sophia itu." Laknat itu akhirnya jatuh ke muka Mustafa Kamal Attaturk apabila beliau menukar fungsi masjid itu menjadi muzium pada tahun 1935 & mengikis semula segala tampalan2 yg dibuat oleh umat Islam zaman Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih yg bertujuan utk menyembunyikan mozek2 Kristian Greek Orthodox yg berunsur syirik.


Hagia Sophia


Hagia Sophia


Ruang dalaman Hagia Sophia


Antara mozek-mozek Kristian Greek Orthodox di dalam Hagia Sophia yg dipamerkan semula selepas disembunyikan selama lebih kurang 480 tahun
Walaupun era Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah yg berusia lebih kurang 600 tahun (1299-1923) telah berakhir selepas tertubuhnya Republik Turki pd tahun 1923, namun kesan tinggalan empayar tersebut masih lagi kukuh & dapat dinikmati sehingga ke hari ini. Selain Hagia Sophia, antara tarikan-tarikan utama yg wajib dikunjungi oleh mereka yg menjejakkan kaki di bumi Istanbul adalah Blue/Sultanahmet Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar & Suleymaniye Mosque.

Blue/Sultanahmet Mosque yg terletak bertentangan dengan Hagia Sofia di Sultanahmet Square adalah masjid yg terbesar & antara yg teragung di bumi Istanbul. Ianya siap dibina pd tahun 1616 sewaktu pemerintahan Sultan Ahmet I. Masjid ini dikatakan dibina di atas tapak istana Maharaja Byzantine yg telah roboh. Arkitek yg bertanggungjawab mereka bentuk masjid ini bernama Sedefhar Mehmet Aga yg merupakan anak didikan arkitek terunggul Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah, iaitu Mimar Sinan. Masjid ini adalah salah satu drp 2 buah masjid di dunia yg mempunyai 6 buah menara. Sebuah lagi masjid terletak di sebuah bandar di selatan Turki yg bernama Adana.


Blue/Sultanahmet Mosque


Blue/Sultanahmet Mosque


Ruang dalaman Blue/Sultanahmet Mosque
Topkapi Palace pula merupakan kediaman rasmi Sultan-sultan Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah dari tahun 1465 hingga tahun 1853 sebelum kediaman rasmi sultan-sultan empayar tersebut dipindahkan ke Dolmabahce Palace. Usaha pembinaan istana ini telah dimulakan pada tahun 1459, sejurus selepas 6 tahun penawanan kota Istanbul oleh Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih & tenteranya. Kini, istana ini dijadikan muzium yg mempamerkan koleksi-koleksi peribadi Sultan-sultan & istana seperti tembikar, jubah, senjata, lukisan, manuskrip, barang-barang kemas & juga koleksi-koleksi peninggalan Rasulullah SAW & nabi-nabi sebelumnya.


Topkapi Palace


Pintu masuk utama Topkapi Palace
Sementara itu, Grand Bazaar pula adalah sebuah pasar tertutup yang amat terkenal di sini. Ianya adalah pasar tertutup yg terbesar di dunia. Di dalamnya terdapat 58 buah lorong & lebih 6,000 buah kedai. Antara barang yg dijual di sini adalah barang kemas, rempah-ratus, tembikar, permaidani, pakaian, barangan cenderahati & banyak lagi. Grand Bazaar ini siap dibina pada tahun 1461 sewaktu pemerintahan Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih & ianya diperbesarkan lagi pada kurun ke-16 sewaktu pemerintahan Sultan Suleyman I.


Grand Bazaar


Ruang dalaman Grand Bazaar
Suleymaniye Mosque yg terletak di atas sebuah bukit merupakan masjid yg ke-2 terbesar di Istanbul. Masjid ini siap dibina pd tahun 1557 sewaktu pemerintahan Sultan Suleyman I. Arkiteknya adalah arkitek empayar Turki Uthmaniyah yg terulung, iaitu Mimar Sinan yg telah berkerja di bawah 3 orang Sultan. Selama 50 tahun menjadi arkitek diraja, beliau telah mereka bentuk lebih kurang 90 buah masjid, 50 buah rumah mandi (hamam), 35 buah istana & 3 buah hospital. Suleymaniye Mosque adalah antara hasil kerjanya yg paling agung.


Suleymaniye Mosque


Suleymaniye Mosque


Suleymaniye Mosque


Ruang dalaman Suleymaniye Mosque
Selain itu, antara senibina-senibina & kawasan-kawasan lain yg tidak kurang menariknya adalah Eyup Sultan Mosque, Fatih Mosque, Yeni Mosque, Ortakoy Mosque, Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Mosque, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Eminonu Square, Dolmabahce Palace, Basilica Cistern, Beyazit Square, Bosphorus Bridge, Galata Bridge, Galata Tower, Valens Aqueduct, Hippodrome & Taksim Square.

Secara jujurnya, antara kesemua bandar-bandar yg telah aku kunjungi sepanjang pengembaraan aku di bumi Allah ini, Istanbul adalah bandar yg paling indah & paling penuh dgn daya tarikan. Ini bukannya pendapat aku seorang sahaja, malah pelancong-pelancong lain dari segenap pelusuk dunia juga berpendapat sedemikian rupa. Senibina-senibina Turki Uthmaniyah yg terdapat di bandar ini seperti masjid-masjid, istana-istana, rumah-rumah mandi (hamam) & pelbagai lagi tersangatlah mengagumkan. Ditambah lagi dgn kekayaan isi sejarah kota ini yg pernah menjadi pusat pemerintahan 2 buah empayar yg terunggul di dunia iaitu Empayar Rom/Byzantine & Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah. Inilah menjadikan Istanbul sbg destinasi pelancongan yg terbaik bagi aku. Lokasi geografinya yg terletak di antara 2 benua juga menjadikannya unik kerana menjadi tempat pertemuan 2 budaya yg sama sekali berlainan iaitu Islam & Eropah.

Walaupun sekularisma di bumi ini telah berusia berpuluh-puluh tahun, namun Islam masih lagi bertakhta di dalam hati penduduk-penduduknya. Masjid-masjid sentiasa dipenuhi pd setiap waktu solat. Wanita-wanitanya juga ramai yg menutup aurat. Semoga suatu hari nanti, kegemilangan Islam di bumi Istanbul akan terbit kembali. InsyaAllah. Walaupun aku telah 2 kali menjejakkan kaki di bandar ini, hati aku masih lagi terpanggil-panggil utk ke sana. Istanbul sememangnya sebuah bandar yg wajib dilawati oleh setiap manusia di muka bumi ini.

p/s: Kat bawah ni, aku selitkan sebuah video filem animasi berbahasa Inggeris yg bertajuk ‘Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih’. Filem animasi ini mengisahkan tentang bagaimana Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih & tenteranya berusaha untuk menawan kota Constantinople/Istanbul. Sangat bagus untuk ditonton. :)

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HiSToRY oF iSLaM iN SPaiN

Ini pun adalah entri ulangan. I wrote this entry few months back. Maybe ade yg belum baca lagi. So, selamat membaca & selamat menonton 2 video kat bawah ni. :)

Many of us know how Islam was really flourishing in Europe for a period of 800 years (711-1492), particularly in the Southern part of Spain or better known as the region of Andalusia during the period of Medieval Time or Middle Ages or also known as the Dark Ages according to the Westerners. Everything began in the year 711 when an Umayyad General from North Africa (modern day Morocco) named Tariq bin Ziyad & his army crossed the strait that separating the African & European continents (modern day Strait of Gibraltar) & landed in the land of Hispania (modern day Iberian Peninsular which consists of Spain & Portugal) which at that time was ruled by the cruel & barbaric Visigoths. In just a matter of few years, Tariq bin Ziyad & his army managed to defeat the Visigoths & conquered most of the Iberian peninsular. They then called the new conquered land as Al-Andalus or Andalusia in English.

For almost 800 years, Spain was under the light of Islam. Cities like Cordoba, Granada, Seville & Toledo were the modernest cities in the whole Europe at that time. In Cordoba, the capital city of Islamic Empire in Spain, people live in proper houses made of bricks & there were even street lightings & running waters while people in other part of Europe were still living in wooden houses & mud huts, suffering from the feudalism system & tension from the Catholic Church. Religion, knowledge & culture were the top priorities of the Muslim people back in those years. Names like Ibn Rusyd (Averroes), Al-Zahrawi (Albucasis), Ibn Bajjah (Avempace), Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar), Ibn Al-Baitar, Ibn Jubayr, Ibn Tufail (Abubacer), Al-Jayyani, Al-Zarqali (Arzachel), Al-Majriti & many more were so famous even until now because of their knowledge & contributions to science, music, philosophy etc.


Map of Andalusia in 11th Century
Nevertheless, this great empire was gradually getting weaker & weaker from days to days & it slowly broke up into several individual kingdoms, ruled by different rulers & became rivals among each other. This was seen as a great opportunity by the Catholic kingdoms of Northern Spain to reconquer the land of Spain from the Muslims. Their mission was called 'Reconquista' which means Reconquest in English. From time to time, one by one Muslim cities like Cordoba, Seville, Toledo & many more fell into their hands. In the year 1492, Granada, the last Muslim's stronghold in Spain also eventually fell into the hands of Ferdinand II of Aragon & his queen, Isabella of Castille. This means Catholic kingdoms of Northern Spain have officially succeeded with their mission to reconquer the land of Spain for the Catholic people from the Muslims. And they eventually forced all Muslims & Jews who lived in Spain to convert to Catholicism. This order was called as 'Inquisición' or Inquisition in English. It was established to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms & also as an act of cleanliness of blood in Spain. Those who didn't want to convert were expelled from Spain & have their assets seized. Some were even killed. It was indeed a very ruthless action.

Islamic civilisation in Spain has left us with amazing architectures which among them are Mezquita Cathedral in Cordoba & Alhambra in Granada. Mezquita (Spanish word for mosque) was not actually a cathedral. It was originally a mosque before it was transformed into a cathedral. It was once the 2nd biggest mosque in the world after Masjidil Haram in Mecca & is perhaps the most accomplished monument of the Umayyad Dynasty in Spain. The construction of the mosque started in 784 & was completed in 987. In 1236, it was eventually transformed into a Catholic cathedral during the Spanish Reconquista. Meanwhile, Alhambra which is situated in Granada was a palace & fortress complex of the Muslim rulers of Granada. The constructions of the buildings were completed in the middle of 14th century & it finally fell into the hands of King Ferdinand II of Aragon & Queen Isabella of Castile in 1492.


Mezquita from afar, Cordoba


Mezquita, Cordoba


Interior of Mezquita, Cordoba


Alhambra from afar, Granada


Interior of Alhambra, Granada


Interior of Alhambra, Granada
This is just a short story from the history of Islam in Spain. To those who are interested to know more about it, I'd like to recommend you guys to watch these 2 documentaries that I’ve attached below. It is important to know that without Islamic civilisation in Spain back in the Middle Ages, there won't be Renaissance & there won't even be a modern & civilised Europe that we see these days. All the knowledge that they have today owe it all to the Islamic Spain. Nevertheless, some still neglect this.

So, enjoy watching these 2 documentaries.

p/s: To all Malaysian students who are currently studying in Europe, I highly recommend u all to spend at least 7 days in Spain, particularly the Southern region (Andalusia). You wont regret a second of it. Spain will amaze u. Trust me. There's no word to express its beauty & uniqueness. :)

1) AN ISLAMIC HISTORY OF EUROPE


2) WHEN THE MOORS RULED IN EUROPE

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iSLaM: eMPiRe oF FaiTH

Ini adalah entri ulangan sebenarnya. Tuan punye blog hanya sekadar mahu meng'update' blog. To those who haven't watch this documentary, you're highly recommended to do so. This is a very2 good & informative documentary about Islamic Civilisation. Tak rugi utk ditonton. So, enjoy yourselves watching this documentary which consists of 3 parts:

1) Islam: Empire Of Faith 1 - The Messenger
This part deals with the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his early life, his encounter with God Almighty and the birth of Islam. Islam would become the revitalizing force of the barbaric Arabia, returning people to God and bringing back the monotheistic message of Christianity and Judaism in its most powerful way. Islam women were given rights over their husbands, racism was annihilated and the rich were made equal to the poor. This religion is the solution to all of humanities problems and it is important to learn about it today.



2) Islam: Empire Of Faith 2: The Awakenings
This part relates the golden age of Islam. A time of great learning when Europe was steeped in the Dark Ages. The building of great works of architecture, reading, writing, mathematics, medicine, and astronomy. Even before the printing press Muslims would have hundreds of scribes writing all at once so they would learn and reproduce the writings.



3) Islam: Empire Of Faith 3: The Ottomans
This portion deals with the growing Ottoman Empire, which would control the bridge between 3 continents: Africa, Europe and Asia. This empire would begin at the close of the Crusades until World War I, from the 1300s to 1923. They would rule the entire Middle East and make their way into Europe. Before there was the state of Israel, there was great peace in the Holy Land regulated by the Ottomans.

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PaRaDiSe FoUND

Kat bawah ni adalah video sebuah dokumentari menarik yg bertajuk 'Paradise Found: A Documentary on Islamic Architecture' yang meninjau senibina-senibina Islam di seluruh dunia dari Barat hingga ke Timur. Worth watching.. Enjoy!!!!

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SToRY oF SuLTaN MuHaMMaD aL-FaTiH

Kat bawah ni aku selitkan sebuah video filem animasi berbahasa Inggeris yang bertajuk 'Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih'. Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih atau Sultan Mehmet II adalah antara Sultan Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah yang teragung kerana kejayaannya & tenteranya menawan kota Constantinople pada tahun 1453M. Penawanan kota tersebut secara langsung menamatkan riwayat Empayar Byzantine (Rom Timur) yang pada waktu itu sudah pun berusia 1,100 tahun. Constantine XI merupakan Maharaja zalim yang memerintah pada waktu tersebut & merupakan Maharaja Empayar Byzantine yang terakhir sebelum jatuhnya kota Constantinople ke tangan Empayar Turki Uthmaniyah.

Sejurus selepas penawanan Constantinople, Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih menukarkan namanya kepada Islambul (yg bermaksud kota Islam dalam Bahasa Turki). Aku pun tidak pasti bagaimana nama Islambul boleh bertukar menjadi Istanbul. Apa2 pun, kita sebagai umat Islam patut berbangga atas kejayaan yg dicapai oleh Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih & tenteranya. Taktik peperangan yang digunakan untuk menawan kota tersebut adalah antara taktik-taktik peperangan yang paling bijak & menggemparkan dalam sejarah dunia. Alatan-alatan peperangan yang digunakan juga merupakan alatan-alatan peperangan yang paling canggih pada zaman tersebut yang mampu menggerunkan mana-mana pihak musuh.

Sesungguhnya penawanan kota Istanbul itu telah pun diramalkan oleh Rasulullah SAW dalam sebuah hadis yg berbunyi: "Sesungguhnya, umatku akan menawan kota Constantinople. Pemimpinnya adalah sebaik-baik pemimpin & tenteranya adalah sebaik-baik tentera". Selepas kota Istanbul berjaya ditawan, antara perkara pertama yang dilakukan oleh Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih ialah menukar fungsi gereja Hagia Sophia menjadi masjid. Gereja Hagia Sophia merupakan pusat kepada agama Kristian mazhab Greek Orthodox pada waktu tersebut, yang merupakan mazhab agama Kristian yang dianuti oleh pemerintah & rakyat Empayar Byzantine. Ianya setaraf dengan St Peter's Basilica di Vatican City yang merupakan pusat kepada agama Kristian mazhab Katholik. Hagia Sophia siap dibina pada tahun 537M sewaktu pemerintahan Maharaja yang bernama Justinian I. Keindahan senibinanya menjadikannya sebagai bangunan yang paling masyhur di rantau Mediterranean ketika zaman kegemilangan Empayar Byzantine. Strukturnya masih kukuh sehingga ke hari ini walaupun usianya hampir menjangkau 1,500 tahun.

Selepas penukaran fungsi gereja Hagia Sophia menjadi masjid, Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih telah berkata, "Barangsiapa yang menukar masjid Hagia Sophia itu kembali kepada gereja, maka akan berolehlah baginya kutukan & laknat dariku & dari Tuhan Masjid Hagia Sophia itu." Laknat itu akhirnya jatuh ke muka Mustafa Kamal Attaturk apabila beliau menukar fungsi masjid itu menjadi muzium pada tahun 1935 & mengikis semula segala tampalan2 yg dibuat oleh umat Islam zaman Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih utk menyembunyikan mozek2 Kristian Greek Orthodox yg berunsur syirik. Wallahu 'alam.


Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turki


Ruang dalaman Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turki


Antara mozek-mozek Kristian Greek Orthodox di dalam Hagia Sophia yg dipamerkan semula selepas disembunyikan selama lebih kurang 480 tahun
Utk mengetahui lebih lanjut lagi tentang bagaimana Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih & tenteranya menawan Constantinople aka Istanbul, saksikanlah video filem animasi di bawah:

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