The Grand Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul welcomed Turks and foreign expatriates in Tarawih prayers for the first time in 88 years, after two years of delay due to the Corona epidemic.

The first Tarawih prayer at the Great Hagia Sophia after an absence of 88 years (Anatolia)

Today, Sunday evening, Tarawih prayers will be held on the third night of Ramadan.


For the past two years, it was prohibited to perform Tarawih prayers in congregation, as part of measures to confront the outbreak of the Corona epidemic, but with the return of life to normal, it was decided to resume the establishment of Tarawih prayers.

The Hagia Sophia Mosque was opened for worship two years ago, but Tarawih prayers remained absent due to Corona (Anatolia)

Hagia Sophia and the rest of Istanbul's mosques witnessed various activities on the first and second days of the holy month, such as reciting and sealing the Qur'an in the manner of interview, supplications, chants, invocations and preaching lessons.

Tarawih in the way of "Andron"

Tarawih prayers were also held yesterday, Saturday, in the "Andron" method, which was present in the traditions of the Ottoman palaces in the past.

Yesterday, Saturday, Tarawih prayers were held on the second night of Ramadan (Anatolia).

Among the most famous shrines used in Tarawih prayers in the Andron method are: Hejaz, Sikah, Isfahan, Ashaq, and Ajam Asheran.

The reading is often done in the Witr prayer in the shrine of Sikah.

Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul wearing Ramadan decorations (Anatolia)

The first time that Tarawih prayers were held in this way in Ramadan in 1831 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, and the chief muezzin at the time was Hamamizadeh Ismail Dada Effendi, and Imam Zine El Abidine Effendi was the chief imam of the palace.

From the atmosphere of Tarawih prayers on the first night, which was held on Friday evening at the Great Hagia Sophia Mosque (Anatolia)

The Hagia Sophia Mosque witnessed a large presence of Turkish families after they ate breakfast in the squares of the "Sultan Ahmed" area, on the first day of Ramadan this year.

An attendance that reflects the longing for Tarawih prayers, which remained absent due to Corona (Anatolia)

It is noteworthy that on July 24, 2020, Friday prayers were held in the Great Hagia Sophia Mosque for the first time in 86 years since it was converted into a museum, in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his deputy Fuat Oktay, Parliament Speaker Mustafa Shantob, ministers, other officials and heads of parties.