Al-Quds Trip

As NUN Schools, the route of our second journey, where we will explore different geographies and our ancient civilization in order to discover the universe and closely contemplate the verses of Allah, will be al-Quds, which has been considered sacred by all three monotheistic religions and has been of great importance for many societies throughout history.

 After the journey from Istanbul to Tel Aviv, we arrived in Jaffa, one of the most beautiful coastal towns of the Mediterranean, which was conquered in the time of Omar bin al-Khattab. In Jaffa, an important Ottoman governorship, we contemplated on the Mediterranean and saw the Mahmoudiya Mosque and Complex with its peaceful environment, the Jaffa Clock Tower built by Sultan Abdulhamid II in honor of the 25th anniversary of his reign, and the Ottoman Fountain, one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture. 

We arrived at Bayt al-Maqdis, which is mentioned as a holy place and direction together with the Kaaba in Mecca, and is completely blessed, was visited. Afterwards, we paid a visit to the Dome of the Rock, one of the oldest surviving works of Islamic architecture, and Masjid al-Aqsa, the first qibla of Muslims and the place where Prophet Muhammad's ascension began.  The stone streets of Al-Quds were wandered, trying to discover, recognize and feel Al-Quds. Then, Marwan Mosque, Al-Burak Mosque and Mosque of Omar bin Al-Khattab, which was built at the place where Omar bin al-Khattab prayed, were visited.  

The graves of the Companions of Salman al-Farisi, who sought and spread the truth, and of the first female sufi Rabia of Basra were visited. And the journey continued to the city of Al-Khalil after visiting the Bayt al-Maqdis, Kidron Valley and the lands that are sacred to all three monotheistic religions. Here, the Masjid al-Khalil and the tombs of the prophets Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub and Yusuf and their wives, and the Maqam of Prophet Musa on the road to the city of Jericho were visited.       The trip was concluded by visiting the Maqam of Prophet Dawud on Sion Hill and the Al-Jazzar Mosque, an Ottoman structure.

After this trip, where we aimed to equip our students with the consciousness of history and civilization and to be inspired by historical places while building the future, NUN School students realized the importance of al-Quds for the three monotheistic religions around national and spiritual values. They examined the existence of Masjid al-Aqsa in the historical process and how it preserved this existence, what processes al-Quds went through under the auspices of the Ottoman Empire, and the dimensions of the relationship of religion with the individual and society.