Ramadhan Traditions Around the World – The Islamic World

Although I might missed a lot of the Ramadhan traditions around the world with the series now I am closing it, as Ramadhan comes to a close, I would like to save them for next time! For the closing of the series of articles, Let’s look at the ramadhan traditions prevalent throughout the Muslim world, wherever they might be.

Iftar : Happiness in Togetherness

A family in Iraq and their Iftar meal (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) Courtesy of
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ramadan-iftars_n_5605933

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) once said in a Hadith (Prophetic narration) :

The Prophet said, “He who fasts has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord. The change in the breath of the mouth of the one who fasts is sweeter to Allah than the smell of musk.”

Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim

In the Islamic communities, Iftar, or the breaking of fast at the end of the fasting day every sun down, is a cause for celebration. All over the world Muslims had their iftar as festive as they are able to, whether it is with their families, their communities or even by themselves, by having specially prepared meals that are not usually had during the other days of the year.

It is understandable how Iftar can be a joyous moment during fasting. Having no food or drink, not even a sip of water throughout the day, enjoying a meal which oftentimes prepared specially with meals not found on the other days of the year is a simple happiness. Sharing them with the ones we loved and cared, or even with the community just amplifies this feeling of happiness. Imagine when you have a light moment and people come to join in your happiness – the smiles and laughter are just infectious.

Although now what with the situation we are having now, the communal gathering during Iftar are mostly cancelled, the joys of Iftar still exists, although in smaller numbers like in a household. The joys that the Prophet had noted before still rings true, despite the conditions that we are facing.

People impacted by COVID-19 pandemic have iftar during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on April 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) Courtesy : http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2021-04/25/c_139903999_3.htm

Taraweeh : The Special Prayers of Ramadhan

Taraweeh or Tarawih are special nightly prayers performed after the Isya’ Prayers (daily nighttime prayers).The term comes from the Arabic root word Rahat, meaning to be comfortable. This means that the prayer is performed slowly and comfortably, presumably to help us to digest the Iftar meals we had before.

The numbers or Raka’ah (repetitions) in a Taraweeh prayer vary from mosque to mosque, or individuals to individuals, should they chose to perform it in the comforts of their own home. The most agreed upon number is 20 Raka’ah, and the last number of raka’ah would be 8. This is dependent on each owns preference and lever of fitness, as sometimes people cannot perform the prayers repeatedly for a long time.

Each night, the mosques would be filled with congregants who would want to reap the rewards of the prayers during the sacred month. Although now with the pandemic happening, some countries forgo the prayers and asks congregants to pray privately in their own homes. Some still have people performing the prayers in the mosques, albeit within the restrictions set up by the local governments. However, in communities with the infection count under control, the congregants flock to the mosques to offer their prayers, being thankful that they have the chance to do so, unlike their brothers and sisters in other countries.

Prayers in the Grand Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia during COVID restrictions.
Courtesy : https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/605434

Lailatul Qadar : The Night of Decree

Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down during the Night of Decree.

And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.

Peace it is¹ until the emergence of dawn.

Al Quran, Surah Al Qadr Verse 1-5

Lailatul Qadar, translated as the Night of Decree or Night of Power in English, is a special night in Ramadhan which holds an importance in the Islamic community. It is believed that during this night, the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation from Allah. It is also the night during when the angels of God descend down from heaven to earth bringing the years blessings, God’s decrees and peace to Muslims.

The exact time of the night is not certain, but it is believed to be during the last ten nights of Ramadhan. It is said that Allah kept the actual night concealed because He wanted Muslims to pray to him even more during the last ten nights, in order to reap the rewards of Lailatul Qadar, the night better than a thousand months.

Muslims honour the last ten nights of Ramadhan by increasing their spiritual activity – Reading the Qur’an, supplicating and performing extra prayers are some of the activities Muslims do during these period. And nowhere this can be seen at its most apparent than the three most sacred sites in Islam – Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Muslims here commemorate the last nights with prayers, often staying up all night in the mosques .

Approximately 400,000 Muslims attended prayer services in the Al Aqsa Compund on the 27th of Ramadhan in Jerusalem, Palestine.
Photo Courtesy : https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/400-000-muslims-mark-laylat-al-qadr-at-al-aqsa-mosque-/1494596

Ramadhan Traditions Around the World – Turkey and the Islamic Balkan States

For this edition, I am going to discuss about the traditions in the Turkish Republic as well as the Islamic Balkan States. I decide to combine these two regions because simple they share a lot of similarities, seeing that some of the Balkan states were a part of the Ottoman Empire, thus they have a lot of cultural similarities especially when it concerns to religion, as Islam is also shared between Turkey and the Muslim majority Balkan States.

Ramazan Drummers – Waking the Faithful

Ramazan drummers in Istanbul. Photo courtesy : https://www.dawn.com/news/1263130

Like many other countries, Turkey also have their own human “alarm” to wake up the Residents of Turkish cities, particularly Istanbul, for their Sahur, the pre-dawn meal taken before sunrise to prepare oneself for a day of fasting. Stemming from the era of the Ottoman Empire, these drummers usually don Ottoman style outfit as they beat their drums in the dark of the night, waking people up so they can take Sahur. They also recite poems in honour of Ramadhan (Ramzan in Turkish) as they walk down the streets.

Coffee Drinking – All Night Long

A group of Bosnians breaking their fast overlooking Sarajevo (AP Photo/Amel Emric)
Courtesy of https://www.columbian.com/news/2018/may/17/a-look-at-the-muslim-fasting-month-of-ramadan/

Coffee is one of the legacy left by the Ottomans and is a famous drink throughout former Ottoman Empire states. Some former Ottoman countries also consider coffee as their national drink, and they took pride in preparing and having them every day. This rang true to the Bosnians, where after Isya’ and Taraweeh (Night prayers) Coffee houses all over the countries opens up their doors to serve the community throughout the night, to offset the unavailability of the drink during the day.

Roma Muslim Songs – Songs for the Sacred Month

An Albanian Muslim beating the Lodra
By Chmouel at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10082833

In Albania, a group of Muslims called the Roma Muslims announced the start and the end of the sacred month with traditional songs. Everyday during this month, the Roma Muslims would beat the Lodra (a double sided drum) while marching the streets. Muslim families would often invite them into their houses to play traditional songs before Iftar, the end of the fasting day.

Mahya – Lighting up the Holy Nights

Mahya lights hung from the minarets of the famous Blue Mosque, reading ‘Let us love, let us be loved’ in Turkish.
By Uğur Başak – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1284978

Mahya are light strung between mosque minarets in Turkey particularly in cities such as Istanbul and Edirne, spelling out devotional messages for the faithful. It dates back to the Ottoman times, and has been a Ramadan tradition for hundred of years. This tradition is unique to Turkey, as many of the Ottoman imperial mosques have more than two minarets from the the lights hung. The messages can be seen from very far away and inspire those who see them.

Ramadhan Traditions Around the World – The Arab Countries

Let’s continue on with our Ramadhan special about the traditions Muslims around the world in welcoming and celebrating the holiest month in Islam. For this edition we are focusing on the Arab countries, which includes the Gulf States, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and the surrounding regions as well as North African countries. Now I am not going to focus on each of the countries, but I am going to collectively discuss about the traditions practiced by the Muslim in these regions, as they usually have common traditions among themselves, being Arabs. Of course, if there is a special tradition specific to a country (or countries) I will mention it.

Musharati – The Dawn Caller

Haitham Nasr, A Palestinan Musharati. He lost his leg during March of Returns in 2018.
Photo Courtesy – SAID KHATIB / AFB from https://berita.mediacorp.sg/mobilem/eksklusif/gambarpilihanhariini/gambar-pilihan-hari-ini/4597322.html

Like in the Indian Peninsula, there are people who called the faithful for their pre-dawn meal in preparation of the fasting day ahead. The Musharati or Misharaty as they are traditionally called in the Gulf States, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and even in Turkey, would beat their drums and singing praises for Allah and Prophet Muhammad while walking around in their neighbourhoods to wake the residents for their Sahur/Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) In Morocco, they are known as the Nafars, singing beautiful melodies to rouse the faithful for their Sahur.

Fawanees – The Colourful Lights of Ramadhan

The brightly lit and decorated street in Cairo, Egypt.
Photo Courtesy – https://dailynewsegypt.com/2020/04/29/ministry-of-tourism-promotes-ramadan-vibes-in-egypt/

These colourful lanterns is believed to originate from Egypt which later spread among the other Muslim countries. The Fanous or Fawanees (plural) origins is not very clear but some theories traces the origins of these lanterns to folklore. One story recalls the time of the Fatimid Caliph Al Hakim Bi Amrillah wanted to make the streets of Cairo full of light, thus he ordered all of the imams of the city’s mosques to hang lanterns in their minarets to signify the breaking of fast and illuminate the streets. From then it became a Ramadan tradition in Egypt.

Cannons – A Loud End to the Fasting Day

Cannons standing by before dusk to mark the end of the fasting day.
Photo Courtesy https://www.alshorts.com/news/uae-news/dubai/ramadan-2021-dubai-police-all-set-to-begin-tradition-of-canon-shooting-60727f281cb2ef3a6738f977

Another Egyptian tradition which still being practiced in other countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, Cannons are fired to signify the end of the fasting day. It is believed to originate back in the 15th century, where a Mamluk Sultan at that time fired from a newly acquired cannon and did so exactly at the time of the Maghrib prayers, which is the time for breaking the fast. The public understood this as the way the Sultan telling them about the end of the fasting day.

Mheibes – Tradition within a Celebration

A group of men playing the traditional Iraqi game Mheibes.
Photo courtesy https://ahmad-mousa.tumblr.com/post/123539283940/a-man-tries-to-guess-who-has-the-ring-during-a

In Iraq, there is a tradition of playing the Mheibes, a game played shortly after breaking the fast, at dusk. This game requires two teams with each of them take turn try to guess which participant of the game is holding a ring hidden in their hand. Despite the conflicts ongoing in Iraq, the game is still played during Ramadhan, signifying the importance of the game historically and culturally.

Ramadhan Traditions Around the World – The Indian Peninsula

To continue with the Ramadan special, we now look to the Ramadhan Tradition in the Indian Peninsula, which includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Pakistan and India. As one of the earliest regions to receive the light of Islam, Ramadan traditions in the Indian Peninsula are culturally rich, reflecting the history of Islam embedded in the daily life of the Muslims in these countries.

India – Seheriwala or Zohridaar

Nadeem, A Seheriwala in Old Delhi, India.
Photo courtesy of https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/no-filter/seheriwala-an-unique-and-traditional-face-of-ramzan-observance/

The tradition of Sehriwala or Zoohridaar stems from a cultural heritage of the Muslim Mughal empire, where men called the Sehriwala or Zoohridaar would wake up the Muslims for the daily Sehri or Suhoor (predawn meal) in preparation of the fasting day ahead, singing the names of Allah and praises for the Prophet Muhammad as early as 2 in morning, knocking on people’s doors and walls. The tradition lives on generation to generation, although the numbers of the Sehriwala dwindled in these days of modern alarm clocks and phone reminders.

Pakistan – Daily Feasts

Rows of meal trays lined up for the breaking of fast, waiting for hungry devotees in a mosque in Pakistan. Photo by Raja Islam

Breaking of the fast is a special occasion for every fasting Muslim all over the world, and it is nothing different in Pakistan. Iftar meals in Pakistan is a grand affair, where usually the meal would be split into two – a lighter meal before the Maghrib prayer which usually consists of smaller finger food like Pakhoras (fritters) and Samosas (Triangular fried dumplings) with Rooh Afzah (Herbal rose flavoured drink) to wash it down. After the prayers, the real, heavier iftar meal starts, with barbequed meats and curries served together with Briyani and breads like Khameeri roti and finished off with desserts like Halwa (fried sugar syrup soaked semolina) and Gulaab Jamun (a milk based dessert). Of course, charitable acts and the spirit of sharing during this time in respect of Ramadan is always there – feats like these would be prepared also for those who needed them and can’t afford to have their own iftar meal, usually served at the local mosques. These meals would also be offered for non Muslims, and even sometime non Muslims would treat their Muslim neighbours for their iftar meals.

Bangladesh – Street Bazaars

The busy Chawkbazar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, serving up many different kind of mouth watering iftar meals.
Courtesy of https://dailyasianage.com/news/64209/chawkbazar-is-still-number-one-for-iftar

I think it would be safe to say that most countries that have a Ramadan tradition would have some sort of bazaar for buying foods and drinks for the breaking of the fast, and Bangladesh is not any different. Bazaars selling local delicacies like different types of Pakhoras , Kebabs, different kinds of breads like Moglai paratha and Shorbot (drinks like lemonade) as well as different kinds of yogurts are often sold there. Bazaars like Chawkbazar in the old city of Dhaka and Bailey Road hosts Ramadan bazaars selling these meals, the latter even served its customers since the time of the Mughal empire.

Sri Lanka – Ramadan as a a Minority

A Sri Lankan Family having an Iftar Meal.
Courtesy of https://srilanka.travel-culture.com/guide/ramadan_sri_lanka.shtml

Muslims accounts to about 7% of the total population in Sri Lanka. This doesn’t mean that Ramadan goes by like any other time of the year. Like other Muslims in the world, they fast and do charitable works during the time while usually working their usual daily schedule, before breaking the fast with special meals like Pakhoras or ‘Kanji’ a rice based soup. Afterward again like most Muslims in the world they would proceed to the local mosques to pray the Maghrib and Isya prayers as well as the special Taraweeh prayers. The mosques would also allocate special spaces partitioned for female worshippers attending the nightly prayer service.

Ramadhan Traditions Around the World – South East Asia

As promised, On the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadhan, I dedicate a little bit of extra time to showcase Ramadhan traditions around the world, when Muslims everywhere would do something extra special to celebrate this special time of the year. I am starting from my home region – South East Asia, the home of countries with both Muslim majority and minority countries. The countries include Brunei, Malaysia Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. I do not include some of the cultures celebrating Ramadhan in other countries like the Cham Bani of Vietnam because of their rather unorthodox version of Islam, or when the ramadan tradition is not significant enough or not very much practiced. There are traditions that I heard and gathered from friends and foster families I have throughout the regions, so if there is a mistake somewhere please let me know, I would love to know how Ramadan is celebrated in your country.

Brunei : Prayers at the Sultan’s Palace

Tedarus Closing Ceremony at Baitur Rahman, Istana Nurul Iman.
courtesy of https://www.brudirect.com/news.php?id=28734

As a child I remember being brought to the Sultan’s Palace for Tarawih (Special nightly prayers) and Tedarus (Qur’an reading). I think this tradition is specific in Brunei, where the ruler invites his Muslim subjects to come to his palace every night in Ramadhan for prayers, although of course, it is heavily secured with police. After the prayers finished the attendees would be given treats like traditional Kuihs (sweet and savory snacks) and even a small amount of money! Although in the past years it seems that it is in decline and not as lively as before, as now attendee are on invite only.

Malaysia : Moreh

Mosque congregants having Moreh after Tarawih prayers in Malaysia .
Courtesy of https://www.mstar.com.my/lain-lain/rencana/2018/05/25/ramadan-kampung

In Malaysia, there is a tradition of eating a festive supper after Tarawih prayers, a special prayer done only during Ramadan. This is in the spirit of charity, of feeding people for the sake of reaping rewards offered by Allah in this special month. Moreh is believed to be an amalgamation of Javanese and Malay words of Mangan/Makan meaning to eat and Tarawih, which results to Mareh. It is also believed to come from the tern Moh Tarawih meaning let’s (pray) tarawih, although both of these terms are nothing but theories, as no one can be certain of the origins! However, what is certain that a variety of food including sweet and savory food like traditional Kuihs or simple meals like small bowls of Soto(noodle soup) and Bubur Lambuk.

Singapore : Bubur Lambuk or Bubur Masjid.

Al Falah Restaurant in singapore preparing Bubur ambuk or Bubur Masjid for distribution.
courtesy of https://berita.mediacorp.sg/mobilem/eksklusif/ramadansyawal2020/dapur-masjid-tak-berasap-tapi-tradisi-bubur-masjid-terus-hidup/4437932.html

As I noted above, Bubur Lambuk is a simple meal eaten during Ramadhan. It is not special to Singapore, but rather it is a meal popular among the Malays. Bubur Lambuk or sometimes referred to as Bubur Masjid in Singapore is a type of rice porridge, lighly spiced with an assortment of different toppings like chicken, dried shrips and/or meat, usually garnished with fried onions and parsley. The light and hearty porridge with its warm spicy taste is a popular fast breaking meal for Malay Muslims, as well as after the Tarawih prayers.

Thailand : Multicultural Celebration :

A halal food stall in Thailand, attended by Muslims.
By Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia – Banana rotee stall, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75233938

Thailand is a multicultural and multi-religious country. Muslims are minorities in the country where it is thought that Muslims make up about 5% of the total population. Although during the Holy Month of Ramadhan mosques are open for Iftar meals to both Muslims and Non-Muslims. They celebrate the end of the fasting day together and share their meals in peace, harmony and solidarity.

Indonesia : Padusan

A Padusan ceremony in Pengging, Banyudono, Boyoali in Central Java, Indonesia.
Photo courtesy of: ANTARA FOTO/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho

This is something I just knew a few years back. Indonesia is steeped in tradition, and their traditions intermix in harmony with Islam. This is the case of Padusan, a pre ramadan tradition of cleansing oneself in a river or spring to purify themselves before Ramadan, making it a celebration of the Holy Month itself. Springs in particular are sacred in the Javanese culture as they believe that it comes from the Mother Earth herself. Padusan itself means to bathe in Javanese, and it is time for both physical and spiritual cleansing for those who partake in this ceremony.

Philippines : Special Maranao Iftar Meals

Maranao specialty meals featuring Kuning or Tumeric rice served during Ramadan. https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/232039/the-spirit-and-food-of-ramadan/

Islam is the second largest religion in the Philippines, and most of them live in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the south of the country. The Maranao people, predominantly Muslim, have special meals tied to the breaking of the fast, including Kuning (Yellow tumeric rice) and Piyaparan (Chicken or Yellow Fin cooked in coconut milk) is served during Iftar along with desserts like Dodol (violet rice with durian) and Browa (sponge cakes). These are served during the breaking of fast after a long day without food or drink.

Observation – Namazgah

During my trip to Turkey, in the area where I stayed (Kadırga, in the Fatih district of Istanbul) I passed a curious, small curious building in the Kadırga park. It was made of marble, without any roof. On one side there is a small cesme (fountain) and a stairway on the side leading curiously up to the building. The whole building was gated, so I cannot approach it any closer. Unfortunately, it was vandalized, although not as badly as some of the monuments I had seen in Istanbul. Although the building was very much in the state of disrepair. There was a small information kiosk nearby, although back then I could not read or understand a lick of Turkish at all. Once I returned back to Brunei I started to look for any information on this particular building, and in the end I found out that it was a Namazgah. What is a Namazgah? Well, let me give you a little bit of information about this one first.

This particular Namazgah is named after Esma Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Ahmet III, and was built in 1779. There are two fountains (Cesme) on two sides of the building as well as , and there is a staircase leading up to the top of it. It is a short stout building, located in the Kadırga park, lower than the street level probably because the level keep going up over the years.

But what exactly is a Namazgah?

A Namazgah is simply put, an outdoor prayer space. The name is believed to came from Persian, and a combination of the words Namaz , meaning prayer, and Idgah, A place for prayer. I think Namazgahs are particularly unique to Turkish, Persian and Northern Indian Subcontinent areas, because I have never seen such a structure here in Brunei (or the Nusantara, generally). The shape of the structure differs quite a lot amongst different areas, in my observation. Some of the Namazgah I have seen is a literal open space, enclosed only by short walls. Some are like traditional mosques with domes, but a lot smaller in size. Some has their own short minarets and even miniature mimbars (pulpits)

There are not a lot of information about Namazgahs to write about, but this chance meeting of this interesting piece of Islamic architecture piqued my interest and started my journey delving into buildings that are rather less discussed. I am currently watching a series from Diyanet TV, Namazgahlar, discussing about these structure, although it is in Turkish. However, if you are interested you can watch them for more information.

Below are some of the pictures of the Namazgah I seen in Kadırga

Esma Sultan Namazgah, from http://www.mustafacambaz.com/details.php?image_id=25454

A fountain of the Namazgah. from https://www.gezginrehberler.com/istanbul/esma-sultan-meydan-cesmesi-ve-namazgahi-kadirga-istanbul/

Observation – Hagia Sophia is Now a Mosque

If you follow world news and/or have social media account, there is a chance that would have seen the news about the Hagia Sophia.

Last Friday, 10th of July, the Turkey State Council reinstated the status of Hagia Sophia or the Ayasofya in Turkish, from a museum back into a mosque, much to the chagrin of the international community. It was turned into a museum by Ataturk about 86 years ago after establishing the Republic of Turkey. There are a lot of comments regarding this reversion, even as the plans were announced. There were almost equal reactions – many Turkish and international community, mostly Muslims , praised the move by President Erdogan, calling it a victory for the Muslims. while on the other hand, there are the opposer of this as well.

If you follow world news and/or have social media account, there is a chance that would have seen the news about the Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia is one of the monuments that I had visited during my trip to Istanbul back in 2017. You can read all about it here :

https://starsinsymmetry.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/appreciation-istanbul-pt-14-hagia-sophia-aya-sofya/

Last Friday, 10th of July, the Turkey State Council reinstated the status of Hagia Sophia or the Ayasofya in Turkish, from a museum back into a mosque, much to the chagrin of the international community. It was turned into a museum by Ataturk about 86 years ago after establishing the Republic of Turkey. There are a lot of comments regarding this reversion, even as the plans were announced. many Turkish and international Muslim community , praised the move by President Erdogan, calling it a victory for Islam. On the other hand, opposition, mainly from Greece, Russia, the EU and US, criticized this change of status.

I am not going to delve into any political aspects of this issue, but I want to express my feelings about this. I have mixed feelings about it. As a Muslim, I am glad to be able to pray in this mosque again in the future as well as to be able to freely visit it. But at the same time I am worried about the Byzantine mosaics that are in the mosque. What will happen to them? They are beautiful examples of Byzantine Christian art and of a very important historical artifacts. To cover them again like what was done during the Ottoman times would be rather a terrible idea because no one would be able to see them again. If they decide to move the mosaics on the other hand, they might (and will) destroy these pieces of art. As an appreciator of art I enjoy art in all forms, even those which aren’t in my field, in this case Christian devotional artwork, and just like botched art restoration like this, knowing that these works are in danger breaks my heart.

This issue is such a complicated one to be honest, and just to view it on one opinion only would be a selfish perspective. I am happy to see that this museum is turned into a mosque again, I am just concerned with the Christian symbols inside and what will happen to them.

UPDATE : Apparently they will use “Optical, light-based technology, carpets and curtains” to cover up the mosaics for every time Islamic prayer is conducted. Read here :

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/christian-icons-in-the-hagia-sophia-will-be-covered-using-optical-technology-hurriyet/

Here are some of the mosaics I took at the Hagia Sophia in 2017, before it was reverted into a mosque. What is your views about this? Do you support this move, or are you one of the dissidents? Or perhaps, you are like me, in between the two positions? Tell me down below in the comments!

The Virgin Mary and Jesus Mosaic directly above the Mihrab, where the apse of the former cathedral used to be.

An image of a seated Jesus above the narthex before entering the main hall.

Crosses underneath superimposed floral motifs, probably happened during the Iconoclastic era in Christianity. These are not mosaics but painting (I presume) but still it is an important part of the Christian period of the mosque.

The Comnenus mosaic, dating from the 1122, showing the Virgin Mary and Jesus flanked by Constantine IX Monomachus and Empress Zoe

A detail of the Deesis Mosaic, one of the most famous Christian Byzantine artwork in the Hagia Sophia. It depicts Jesus, John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary, made in 1261

Observation : Orientalist Paintings in The Dolmabahce Palace

The last post I made I noted that I had visited Dolmabahce Palace, one of the late Ottoman period architectural masterpiece in Istanbul. When I visited the palace I forgot to mention that it also hosted the National Palaces Painting Museum, one of the finest museum displaying Ottoman paintings mostly from the 18th and 19th Century.

Like the rest of the Palace, you cannot take photos inside this museum (or I assume, judging from the glaring eyes of the staff there) so I cannot really show anything much from the place. But the museum displays a lot of beautiful Orientalist paintings, many of which are done by one of my favourite Ottoman painter, Osman Hamdi Bey. There are also paintings by other notable Ottoman painters such as Seker Ahmad Pasha, Hodja Ali Riza and Huseyn Zekai Pasha as well as western Orientalist painters and even Sultan Abdulmecit himself, who is regarded as one of the celebrated Ottoman painter.

I took a photo of one of Osman Hamdi Bey’s painting in the Cinli Kosk of the Istanbul Archeological Museum. That is the first time I had seen his painting in person for the first time. After that I made a point to look out for more of his painting, and coming to this museum is a right choice, as I had the chance to view more of his paintings here alongside other notable Ottoman and western Orientalist painters.

The museum hosted around 200 paintings spread over 11 sections in the former Crown Prince residences of the palace. Although I cannot take pictures in this museum, Here I present to you some of the paintings I saw in the museum, taken from Wikipedia and other sites. I will also show you a general view of the interior of the museum which is actually quite beautiful in its own right as well. I will also add a Youtube link here celebrating one of his famous artwork here., although this particular one is not featured in this museum.

There are a lot of paintings in this museum as I noted before, but I cannot take any pictures inside thus I cannot post too much of them here. I posted here what I had saw in the museum. Most of the paintings on display there was not available online ; except these ones that I could find –

Fountain of Youth, Osman Hamdi Bey. Currently in Alte Nationalgalrie in Berlin. This is the painting I seen in the Istanbul Archeological Museum, featuring the room in the Cinli Kosk.

Mehmet II entering Constantiople, Fausto Zonaro. One of the most famous painting in Turkey which is reproduced very often. I see this painting next to Sultan Mehmet’s Portrait

Conquest of Constantinople, Fausto Zonaro. This one doesnt get reproduced often, but it is still displayed in the museum

Lady Having Her Hair Combed by a Servant, Osman Hamdi Bey, courtesy of http://artnote.eu/osman-hamdi-bey-an-ottoman-empire-painter/. I think I saw this painting in this gallery. The background reminds me of the Fountain of Youth painting above. The balustrade motif is taken from Topkapi Palace

Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky – Venice. I think I saw this painting in the gallery. The painter is one of the featured artist in this museum.

The Tortoise Trainer, Osman Hamdi Bey. This painting is not in this Museum (it is in PEra Museum though) but I would just like to put it here simply because this is one of his most famous work.

A View inside the museum, courtesy of https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture-and-art/experts-restore-ottoman-paintings-in-istanbul/58017

The video on The Tortoise Trainer I had posted above

Observations – Isra & Mi’raj in Miniature

A few days ago, amidst the COVID-19 scare around the world, we Muslims celebrated a night on the 27th of Rejab (corresponding to 22nd of March, on a Sunday), a night that we called the Isra’ & Mi’raj.

Also known as the Lailatul Mi’raj (Arabic) Israk Mikraj (Malay ) Mirac Kandili (Turkish) and Shab-e-Miraj (Iran, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), it was a celebration of remembrance of the night where the Prophet Muhammad traveled on a creature named the Burak from Mecca to Palestine in a single night – unheard of  during his time – and his ascension to the heavens above where he met other prophets such as Ibrahim Alaihi Salam (Abraham), Musa Alaihi Salam (Moses) Isa Alaihi Salam (Jesus) and other prophets before meeting Allah himself. On this night Allah commanded us Muslims to pray five times a day.

The Isra and Mi’raj is one of the most significant of events in the Islamic calendar, particularly because on this night Allah commanded the five daily prayers, one of the key pillar of Islam. Throughout history, Muslims remembered this event in their own way, some offered extra supplications and prayers. Some dedicated artworks to commemorate this miraculous event, as this article will shed a light upon. Many artworks, in particular miniatures, were made to remember this night.

NOTE : I will not add any miniatures that features the Prophet Muhammad unveiled, as this is for me at least disrespectful towards the holy image of the Prophet. I will only feature those that have the Prophet’s face veiled. Also the Burak and the Angels depicted in the miniatures are purely of the imagination of the painter, so please, especially if you are not  Muslim, do not take the miniatures to be the rightful images of the holy beings. Should you be interested in the miniatures that feature the Prophet unveiled you may Google them, bearing in mind that those images are merely the imaginations of the illustrators, as usually these miniatures were made long after the demise of the Prophet. 

This work is coming form a Khamseh of Nizami. It is ascribed to Sultan Muhammad (Wikipedia). This work depicts the Prophet (centre, with his face veiled ) upon the Burak ascending into heaven. The angels surrounding him carries various items, such as an incense burner, a crown, a robe as well as food, offering them to the Prophet as he rode the Burak. One of the angel with the fire halo in front of the Prophet is thought to be Jibril (Gabriel). The angels and the clouds were clearly Chinese influenced.

Creator:Nizami (Ilyas Abu Muhammad Nizam al-Din of Ganja) Book Title – Iskandarnama (The book of Iskandar) (Wikipedia). In this miniature we see again the Prophet upon the Burak, with his face veiled, being lead on by an angel (probably Jibril the Archangel) while being looked upon by other angels.  The crown and the hair of the angels were characteristically Persian. 

Makhzan al-Asrār by Niẓāmīمخزن الاسرار Folio 3v The Prophet on Burāq (From https://classicalastrologer.me/2015/12/24/thisra-and-miraj/)  Here you can see the Prophet on the top right with angels following him, in front of a map of the constellation.

Prophet Muhammad travels the seven heavens on Buraq, (from https://classicalastrologer.me/2015/12/24/thisra-and-miraj/) Here the image of the Prophet is fully replaced by a fire, visiting each level of Heaven.

A Persian miniature taken from the Siyer-i Nebi is a Turkish epic about the life of Muhammad, completed around 1388. The Ottoman ruler Murad III commissioned a lavish illustrated copy of the work. The calligrapher Lutfi Abdullah completed the work in 1595. The Prophet Muhammad is always shown veiled. The Isra and Mi’raj, are the two parts of a Night Journey, according to Islamic tradition, the prophet Muhammad took during a single night around the year 621, described as both a physical and spiritual journey. In the journey, Muhammad travels to “the farthest mosque” where he leads other prophets in prayer. The illustration depicting the Isra is captioned: ” During the night journey, Muhammad led patriarchs, Old Testament prophets and angels in prayer in a celestial mosque.” (fromhttps://www.sciencesource.com/archive/The-Isra–Muhammad-s-Night-Journey–621-AD-SS2439414.html)

Observation : What Will We Lose If a War in Iran Broke Out

In recent years we have seen wars breaking out all over the world particularly in the middle east, and this means losing our cultural heritages to the ravages and destruction of war, Islamic or not.

When the new year, and the new decade is just a few days old, the threat of a war between the United States and Iran became more and more apparent. Especially, after the murder of General Soleimani of Iran. Now, I am not going to talk about politics (as it is one of my most despised topic) but if ever the war break out, the damage would not be not on the leaders of these two countries, but the civilians, the people of these two countries, their friends and families, their properties, and their spaces not to mention their cultural heritages.

Iran has a rich history of art and architecture stretching back way before Islam. Persian art and architecture become instrumental in the development of Islamic art and architecture, as many feature of the former influenced the latter. Without saying, Iran is where many wonders of the Islamic world are. Seljuk, Ilkhanid, Timurid, Safavid, Zand and Qajar empires and dynasties all in one point in time, made Iran a part of their territory, in some parts or all of the country. I had never been there, although it is one of my wish to go there to study the extensive Islamic art and architecture this impressive country has to offer. How can I study these empires and dynasties, should a war broke out?

If the war between these two countries break out, we are at risk on losing several important significant Islamic wonders in Iran, for example :

The Shah Mosque, Soltani Mosque or Imam Mosque in the Grand Bazaar in Tehran ;

The Jameh Mosque of Isfahan ;

Kerman Friday Mosque in Kerman, Iran ;

Nasir-ol-molk Mosque or the Pink Mosque in Shiraz, and

Absolutely not forgetting the majestic Sheikh Lotfallah mosque in Isfahan, Iran.

We had lost many Islamic marvels and wonders because of the destruction that war had caused in recent years, for example in Iraq or Syria, and if this tension continues between the United States and Iran and escalates into another frightening war, then it would be imminent we will lose more of our irreplaceable heritage, all because of the acts of egotistical leaders.

I hope that nothing will happen from this situation, and I hope once again  the region and the world will find peace.