history – Hybrid Learning

Mehmed the Conqueror: A new age, a new empire from Ottomans

Batoota — Sat, 08 May 2021 13:38:31 +0000

BY ANADOLU AGENCYMAY 03, 2021 6:33 PM
It has been exactly 540 years since the passing of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II but his works and effects can still be observed today. Centuries later, he still occupies discussions as if he were alive, as is the case with the Hagia Sophia, which a Turkish court decided was unlawfully converted into a museum when the will of its endower, Sultan Mehmed II, was violated.

Mehmed II, the Ottoman emperor whose achievement in having conquered Istanbul earned him the immortal title of “conqueror” when he was a mere 21 years old sent the Byzantine Empire into the dusty pages of history, leveling up the Turkish state into an empire that would reign over multiple regions across three continents for centuries to come.

Much like other leading historical figures revered throughout history, an interesting story lies at the heart of the regent’s success.

Fed up with political grievances and weary after his eldest son’s demise, Mehmed’s father Murad II abdicated the throne in 1444 and urged Mehmed II to be the empire’s new leader at the tender age of 12.

However, Mehmed’s first reign came to an end only two years later, as Murad II returned to the throne following tension and turmoil in the conquered territories, especially in the European region, and the threat from Crusaders led people to wish for a more experienced leader.

After leaving the throne to his father, Mehmed II returned to Manisa in the Aegean region, where he got married and continued to develop his intellect. The young royal also gained military insight by joining his father at the Battle of Kosovo in 1448.

When his father died in 1451, Mehmed II ascended to the throne once more, yet this time with many lessons learned and a degree of experience under his belt.

His eyes were fixed on the conquest of Constantinople – then the Byzantine capital. He immediately launched preparations for the coming battle.

The sultan assembled a large army, some say with over 200,000 soldiers, and appeared before the city’s strong walls with full confidence.

He surrounded the city by both sea and land and then made an unexpected move: He had warships dragged overland around the city’s Galata area – then a small Genoese merchant colony – on modern Istanbul’s European side.

The military campaign continued for more than 50 days, spearheaded by massive assaults with cannons, which he helped invent and perfect, pounding the walls to open a hole through which soldiers could breach the city.

On May 29, the city finally fell, earning Mehmed II the well-deserved title of “conqueror.”

In subsequent years he also ensured Ottoman control over Serbia, Morea, Trebizond (Trabzon in the northern region of modern Turkey), Bosnia, Albania and a number of Anatolian (central Turkish) territories, increasing Ottoman control to over 2.2 million square kilometers (1.4 million square miles) of territory.

Mehmed II’s swan song victory came in 1480, when he triumphed in Otranto, Italy, and was next planning moves to draw closer to Rome. However, fate had other plans and the conqueror died on May 3, 1481.

While the great Ottoman emperor is mostly remembered for the dazzling military conquests of his reign, he was also a true intellectual.

Mehmed is believed to have spoken Persian, Arabic, ancient Greek and Italian – which is viewed by many as a sign suggesting his desire to form an empire spanning the West and East alike.

Turkish historians say his library included books on such topics as geometry, religion, engineering, astronomy, arithmetic, archaeology, geography and philosophy.

Known to be a poet, the conqueror also had a great interest in the arts, having commissioned Renaissance painter Bellini to do his portrait.

Homer’s Iliad was among the books in his library, and Ptolemy’s ancient world map is believed to have been one of the gems of his collection.

In a brief life of just 49 years, the conqueror managed to leave an indelible mark on history and his legacy still lives on today.

Things you can do for Gaza

Batoota — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:23:04 +0000

Lots of us watch in shock, horror and anger at the ongoing attacks on Gaza and the Palestinian territories. The killing of any civilian, Palestinian or Israeli, is wrong. It is condemned and must be stopped immediately. This is something made clear in Islam as well as international law
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, once noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked him, “Why don’t you tie down your camel?” The Bedouin answered, “I put my trust in Allah.” The Prophet then said, “Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah” (Tirmidhi). This is a reminder of how turning to Allah in times of distress must be coupled with personal responsibility in all things. Here are a couple of things we can all do to help Gaza.

1. Make Dua

Do this on as many occasions as possible: when it rains; when it snows; after each of the five daily prayers; when you’re sick; whenever you remember. Dua helps all of us connect to Allah in a very personal way and reminds us that He is in control. It also connects us psychologically to those we are praying for, despite distance.

2. Become informed

Not just about what’s going on, the death toll, and how the conflict started, who’s involved, etc. Also find out about Islam’s principled stance condemning the murder of civilians, be they Muslim or not. Knowledge and the right information are key to action. Without it, you are liable to hurt, not help the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. For more information about the crisis,

3. Write to your government representatives

Don’t think that their voice doesn’t matter or won’t count. All it takes is one congressman or congresswoman who is well-informed and passionate enough about an issue to start a movement that successfully results in statements and legislation that can turn the tide in favor of justice. This was the case with the issue of America’s stance on the genocide in Bosnia in the 1990s. The same can be done for the current situation in Gaza. Find your congressman here (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt).

4. Keep the issue in the public eye

Protests have already been held across the nation and the world. But these must not stop. Neither should the press releases, op-ed pieces, letters to the editor and more to keep fellow Americans informed about and interested in the situation in Gaza, something which directly involves their tax money and? more importantly, the integrity and respect of their nation on the world stage. A December 31, 2008 Rasmussen Reports poll, found that Americans Democrats voters overwhelmingly oppose the Israeli offensive — by a 24-point margin (55%-31%).

5. Invest in your political empowerment

While American public opinion largely opposes the attack on Gaza, large segments of our leadership do not. The Senate and the House continue to pass one-sided resolutions in support of Israel while 71 percent American surveyed like the US to be neutral in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
This indicates the great power wielded by lobbies in the United States to shape our nation’s course in all affairs. Common Cause among others are trying to reduce the role of money in politics. Among Muslims two groups are focusing on the political arena,

6. Discuss the issue calmly if called to do so

For many Americans, the Middle East crisis is something not to discuss in polite company because of the passionate and emotional responses usually elicited when either side of the crisis talks about it. Knowledge, balance in perspective and calmness are key in discussing it with those not familiar with the territory. If you choose to bring it up or are asked about it by classmates, neighbors or co-workers, speak as calmly as possible. Condemn the killing of all civilians as unIslamic and unethical, as they are. And present your perspective without becoming angry.

7. Never, ever lose hope

This is the ?trust in Allah? part of the situation. After you’ve done your part to help the cause of justice in Gaza, always remember that Allah is the best of planners, the most Wise, and indeed the most Merciful. We must never lose hope in His Mercy towards all human beings, displayed daily in countless ways. We must also remember that all power ultimately lies with Him, and He can turn a seemingly hopeless situation around in incredible ways.

The importance of Jerusalem in Islam

Batoota — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:13:17 +0000

Islam has three holy sites, Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, known as al-Quds or Bayt al-Maqdis in Arabic, is a holy site for all three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Because each of these three religions are Abrahamic, they all emphasize monotheism and share a reverence for many of the same Prophets. The reverence each of these religions has for Jerusalem stems from their shared background. While the shared background between Christianity and Judaism is well known, many do not know that Islam is part of this Abrahamic history. One of the principal pillars of faith in Islam the belief in all Prophets and Messengers. The Qur’ān mentions many Prophets by name, and many of these Prophets lived in Jerusalem.
The city of Jerusalem and Palestine, in general, is the land where many Prophets lived. In several places, the Qur’ān refers to it as a land whose surroundings are blessed (Qur’ān 17:1). Jesus was born in Bethlehem, David and Solomon were in Jerusalem. Additionally, Lot, John the Baptist, and Zacharia also lived in Palestine. After the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him passed, several of his Companions lived in Jerusalem and were buried there. Therefore, Jerusalem is revered because of its historical and religious significance. Jews and Christians do not recognize Ishmael and Mohammad as God’s Prophets and Messengers, so they do not consider Makkah and Madinah as sacred cities. However, Muslims believe in Prophets Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, and so they must recognize the sacredness and importance of Jerusalem in Islam.
Jerusalem was the first direction the Muslims faced during prayer in the first fourteen years of the Prophet Muhammad’s message. Jerusalem is also important because the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him visited it during his night journey and ascension to the heavens known as al-Isrā’ wal miʿrāj. The angel Gabriel took the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in one night, from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then to the heavens in one night. In this miraculous journey, the Prophet Muhammad met many other Prophets including Abraham, Jesus, and Moses peace be upon them all. There is an entire chapter in the called the ascension (al-Isrā’) Qur’ān named after this event. Glory be to He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram [in Mecca] to al-Masjid al-Aqsa [in Jerusalem], whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing (Qur’ān 17:1).
The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him ascended to the heavens from the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem. It was during this visit to the heavens that He was given the command to pray five times a day, the second pillar of Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: A prayer in Makkah (Ka’bah) is worth 1000,000 times (reward), a prayer in my Masjid (Madinah) is worth 1,000 times, and prayer in Al-Aqsa Sanctuary is worth 500 times more reward than anywhere else (Bayhaqi). Because each of only these three places is holy, the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him also discouraged people from traveling to any other sites thinking that they are holy. He said: “Do not undertake a journey to visit any Mosque, but three: this Mosque of mine [in Medina], the Mosque of al-Haram [in Mecca] and the Mosque of Aqsa” (Muslim).
The Prophet Muhammad’s mission was a continuation of the previous Prophets. In Islamic tradition, Jerusalem will also play an important role at the end of times. These are some of the reasons Muslims have a deep love, spiritual connection, and reverence for Jerusalem. Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui notes that there are three important points to remember about Islam and the city of Jerusalem:
1. In the whole history of Jerusalem, form the time of Prophet David until now, the longest rule of this city belonged to Muslims.
2. Muslims maintained the sacredness of this city in the full sense of the word.
3. Muslims established and practiced the most tolerant multi-religious and multi-faith character of Jerusalem.¹
Ultimately, Jerusalem is holy to all three Abrahamic faiths because of their shared history in this place. They all revere the Prophets and religious history of Jerusalem and Palestine. The current political situation in Palestine deprives both Arab Muslims and Christians of entry into Jerusalem. Islam and Muslims have historically ensured that all three faiths freely access their religious sites and practice their faith. In contrast to the Crusaders, Salah al-Din concurred Jerusalem and respected all faiths of the city. It is this spirit of tolerance and coexistence that are missing from today’s occupation of Jerusalem. Islam ultimately calls for peace and submission to one God, the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.