Dear Mr. Ataturk

Dear Mr. Ataturk,

Just thought I’d drop you a short note to tell you about my trip to your beautiful city, Istanbul. To say the least, I had a wonderful time just walking through its neighborhoods and exploring its exquisite bodies of water. I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that although your country has come a long way economically, the European Union has not recognized Turkey as a member up till this point in time… Disappointing news to you I am sure but thought you’d like to know…



If only you were alive, Mr. Ataturk to see today’s Istanbul. Yes, you would have been proud of its lively streets with colorful tourists slowly sipping Turkish black tea at the cafes. You would have been proud of the odd sky scraper invading the city’s hilly landscape viewed from the Bosphorus. You would have been proud of the beaches filled with care-free sun-bathers hoping to be baked by Istanbul’s gentle sun at the end of the day... You would have been proud of quite a number of things actually…

I especially enjoyed walking through your Covered Bazaar. Kaleidoscopic colors emanating from the display of traditional lights… Stones and jewelry sparkling from the windows of the shops… fake designer handbags hanging everywhere…. eager salesmen starting conversations with passersby hoping to draw them into their stores with their Anatolian charm calling “Come, come, I show you… Special price for you…” Let me tell you… If you closed your eyes for just a split-second and let your mind wander, the fusion of all the droning background sounds made you drift into the world of the Ottomans…

However, I can’t help but wonder what you would have thought of the Covered Bazar on Friday afternoon. Yes, I must admit it was a strange sight even to my eyes that were accustomed to such scenes. I wasn’t expecting this at all… All of a sudden, sellers began to dim the lights of their shops and rearrange their displays indicating that they were no longer open for business. Right before my eyes, I saw rows and rows of men forming, waiting for the "Khateeb" to begin his "khutba" right there in one of the bazaar’s alleys. It was time for Juma’a prayer! Then, I observed these same rows prostrate to Allah, almost mathematically synchronized by the Imam’s movements. There was a sense of indescribable tranquility that had spread throughout the bazaar and it was contagious…

Believe it or not, I would rate this as the most amazing experience that I had encountered in your miraculous city. I wanted to freeze time and be part of the scene forever… seeing all these light-haired men who had left their lifelines and gathered to seek “rahma” from the Almighty through collective prayer… All these men who were just moments ago salesmen trying any tactic to lure the casual observer passing by their store … Oh, you beg to differ? Once the prayer was over, the bazaar had come alive again with sounds of clacking Turkish porcelain and anxious sellers bargaining with fellow tourists…

Surprised, Mr. Attaturk? Thought you would be… Subhan Allah, all your efforts to eradicate any trace of what you thought of as a regressive religion from the quotidian life in Istanbul wasn’t really that successful after all? Actually, I have endless examples of how the beauty of Islam has engraved its presence onto many facets of Turkish life but I think I better stop here. I know this news is a little overwhelming so I will leave you for now. Maybe, I’ll write again soon and tell you a little more about my trip to your beloved country…

Sincerely,
Salama

وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا لا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَى (سورة طه,آية 132)

And enjoin upon thy people worship, and be constant therein. We ask not of thee a provision: We provided for thee. And the sequel is for righteousness (Surat Tâ-Hâ, Verse 132).