A Russian tourist who was in Istanbul for a visit to the famed Hagia Sophia mosque has decided to convert to Islam. The tourist can be seen reciting the Shahada, which is Islam’s declaration of faith, in a social media video.
During Ottoman rule, Hagia Sophia was converted from a Christian cathedral to a mosque. It was changed back into a mosque in 2020. The mosque continues to draw visitors from different backgrounds and religions.
The Russian visitor took part in a lesson on Sahih Bukhari, one of the reliable books of Hadith (the words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad), during his stay. The lesson captured his interest and motivated him to convert to Islam. He was given the Islamic name Ahmad Daneez following his conversion.
This incident demonstrates how individuals from various backgrounds—regardless of their prior religious affiliation—visit Hagia Sophia and discover spiritual significance there.
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