With Ramadan fast approaching, on Tuesday, teams from the Fatih Municipality in Istanbul undertook cleaning and disinfection tasks at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. The municipality's Environmental Protection and Control Directorate led the effort, ensuring both the interior and the surroundings of the historical mosque were thoroughly cleaned. 
Activities included vacuuming carpets, spraying disinfectant on shoe racks and inside the mosque. Additionally, hot water and disinfectant were used to wash the ablution fountain, mosque courtyard, and Hagia Sophia Square. Following the cleaning, rose water, a traditional practice dating back to the Ottoman Empire, was sprayed both inside and outside the mosque.
Fatih Yıldız, an official from the municipality overseeing the cleaning, highlighted that a team of 20 individuals conducted the cleaning, emphasizing the continuation of such efforts throughout Ramadan. He mentioned the nightly spraying of rose water inside the mosque to maintain a clean worship environment for visitors.
Moreover, the tradition of mahya, symbolized by the phrase "La ilaha illallah" ("There is no God but Allah"), was displayed between the minarets of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, as part of preparations for Ramadan. This tradition, dating back centuries, commenced in Istanbul's mosques, starting with the Eyüpsultan Mosque.
Kahraman Yıldız, the craftsman responsible for the mahya, noted the intricate nature of the task, particularly in the Hagia Sophia Mosque, due to its size. Despite the challenge, he expressed satisfaction with the visual outcome, emphasizing the importance of the tradition.
Hagia Sophia, which had been a museum for 86 years, officially reopened as a place of worship on July 24, 2020, under the name Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, with a Friday prayer ceremony.
Activities included vacuuming carpets, spraying disinfectant on shoe racks and inside the mosque. Additionally, hot water and disinfectant were used to wash the ablution fountain, mosque courtyard, and Hagia Sophia Square. Following the cleaning, rose water, a traditional practice dating back to the Ottoman Empire, was sprayed both inside and outside the mosque.
Fatih Yıldız, an official from the municipality overseeing the cleaning, highlighted that a team of 20 individuals conducted the cleaning, emphasizing the continuation of such efforts throughout Ramadan. He mentioned the nightly spraying of rose water inside the mosque to maintain a clean worship environment for visitors.
Moreover, the tradition of mahya, symbolized by the phrase "La ilaha illallah" ("There is no God but Allah"), was displayed between the minarets of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, as part of preparations for Ramadan. This tradition, dating back centuries, commenced in Istanbul's mosques, starting with the Eyüpsultan Mosque.
Kahraman Yıldız, the craftsman responsible for the mahya, noted the intricate nature of the task, particularly in the Hagia Sophia Mosque, due to its size. Despite the challenge, he expressed satisfaction with the visual outcome, emphasizing the importance of the tradition.
Hagia Sophia, which had been a museum for 86 years, officially reopened as a place of worship on July 24, 2020, under the name Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, with a Friday prayer ceremony.