Thanks be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the
most honorable of all messengers Mohammad; and all his folks, companions, and
followers to the day they are all summoned together.
Last Friday the Imam
talked about causes of victory and causes of defeat. He talked about the 5-day
war and the day known as the Set-Back. What is strange is that in days like
those that victory can come to people who believe in Allah, people who the
causes for victory are fulfilled within them. Therefore, Allah gave them
victory.
Muslims waited for over
eight centuries for the prophecy of taking over Constantinople be fulfilled.
It was a dear dream that passed through the minds of many leaders and
conquerors. The passing of days and years did not fade it off. It remained a
target that encouraged to be fulfilled so the one who fulfills it would
deserve the praise and complement of the messenger (PPBU) when he said:
{Constantinople will be opened (meaning taken over by Muslims), what a
wonderful prince its prince, and what a wonderful army is that army}.
The serious attempt to
take over Constantinople started during the era of Ma3awiah ben Aby-Sufian who
sent two military campaigns in the years 49 and 54 of Hijra (666ac and 671ac).
For seven years of continuous military operations but could not take over the
city.
Suliman Abd-al-Malik
initiated another military campaign in the year 99 Hijra (719 ac) for which he
used his best solders and nights with the latest up-to-date military
technology. Still the brave and fortified city remained defiant.
More attempts were made
at the city of Constantinople during the Ottoman’s eras: Sultan Bazeed the
first, and Sultan Murad 2nd. Eventually, it was Allah’s well that the victory
and the take over of the city be through the sultan, Muhammed 2nd the son of
the Murad 2nd.
Muhammed the Conqurer
(Al Fatih)
Sultan Muhammed the
conquer (known as Al-Fatih) on the 27th of Rajab in the year 835 Hejri or 30
March 1432 ac. The sun of the 7th sultan of the Ottoman’s empire. He
concentrated on educating him. He learned the Quran, learned the Hadeeth,
learned Islamic law, mathematics and astronomy. He was trained for the art of
war. He also spoke Arabic, Persian, Latin and Greek. He took part in all the
wars and battles. Muhammed came to power as a Sultan after the death of his
father on the 5th Muharram 855 Hejri or in 1451 ac. He was 22 years old then.
The building of the
castle “Romelly Hisar”
Sultan Ba-yazeed 1st
created a fortress on the asian banks of the Bosphorus straights during his
blockade of Constantinople known as the Anatolian castle. It was built on the
narrowest point of the Bosphor straights. Sultan Mohammad decided to build
another fortress on the European side of the Bosphur facing the walls of
Constantinople. He brought in all the building material and thousands of
workers. He himself and men in his government took part in the actual building
operation. The emperor of Constantinople could see the building coming up but
could not stop it. It took three months to complete the castle with catapult
(slingshot like) cannons aiming at the roman supply ship passing through
braking the blockade. This castle is known by the name “Romelly Hisar” meaning
the castle of the Romans.
The Byzantine emperor
made numerous raids on the castle and the workers. The raids developed into
skirmishes, and eventually the ottoman Sultan declared war on the Byzantine
state. Both sides started getting ready for war. A military leader known as
John Gestiniany with 700 strong fighters made it through the blockade to
Constantinople, fully loaded with supplies and ammunition. Who helped into
organizing, training and redistributed the local army. Giant chains were put
into the water to block the Muslim boats and chip getting into the bay. The
chains were put across the two points known as the Golden horn.
Muhammed 2nd, was
possessed with conquering Constantinople. An Austerian engineer offered to
build a giant cannon gun that can huge masses enough to break the fortified
walls of Constantinople. It took three months and 700 ton cannon was build
capable of launching 5 ton projectiles. The cannon required 100 bulls to pull,
and 100 men to operate. It was effective in targeting all roads to
Constantinople.
Sultan Mohammad II army
arrived on 12th Ramadan 805 (April 1453 ac) and set its control center at the
Romanious door of the city. He prayed to Allah with the entire army and the
official blockade started. The ottoman fleet of 350 ship moved from the
Gallipole sea base to the Bosphur and implemented a sea blockade of the city.
A total of 265,000 men at sea and land blockaded the city. A request to
surrender was issued to the Byzantine emperor with guarantees given to safe
guard the lives and property and religious belief of the inhabitants. The
request was refused. For the city has one of the strongest natural and man
built fortifications known through history.
The Islamic army kept on
bounding the walls, and the navy kept on trying to remove the chains. But,
damaged walls were rebuilt, and the Byzantine and Italian navy kept the
Ottoman navy from removing the chains. Supplies sent by the Pop in five large
ships engaged with the Ottoman’s navy and managed to go through due to their
experience in the navy maneuvers.
Sultan Muhammad II got
the idea of going round the chains in the water protecting the city from the
Muslim navy. The idea was to transport the navy fleet on land round the chains
into the bay. The engineers put the plans and workers started the work under
the darkness of the night. Roads were laid, covered with timber, covered with
grease. And in one night the Ottomans were able to transport 70 ship with
their sails down, pulled by mules and tough men, while the cannon guns were
hitting the walls to distract the enemy from the ship movement on land. That
was on the night of Ramadan 29th in the year 805 H, (1453ac). At dawn the
sails were lifted and the drums sounded. A bridge was built inside the harbor
to mount more cannon guns. Numerous attempts were made to penetrate the walls.
At dawn on the Tuesday
20 of Jumada Al-Aula 587 H, started his final assault on the city by land and
sea. Gestiniany the military leader was badly injured and retreated.
Eventually, Muslim soldiers managed to get over the walls, and the ottoman
navy managed to remove the chains, the rest of the fleet joined the battle.
The Islamic army flowed into the city and defenders escaped. It only took
three hours from the start of the assault to secure the entire city.
When Muhammed Al-Fateh
as became known got off his horse, prayed to Allah thanking him. Went to
Aya-Sofiya church where all the priests and many people took refuge to. He
gave them the pardon and the promise for their safety. He ordered the church
to be turned into a mosque. And ordered to build a mosque at the grave of the
Abi-Ayuoob Al-Ansari who was part of the first attempts to conquer the city.
Mohammad Al-Fatih decided to have Constantinople as the capital of the state
and changed its name to “Islam pole” meaning the “state of Islam”, which later
became to be known as Istanbul. He permitted those inhabitants who left during
the blockade and war to return. He guaranteed them freedom of religious
practice. Istanbul remained the capital of the state until the collapse of the
Ottoman empire in the year 1924 ac, and the new state of Turkey was
established with Anqera as its capital.
