The Muslim Scouts Fellowship took a group of explorers to Türkiye at the end of August, to discover the rich Islamic history of this culturally diverse country. Here’s a blog post written by a group of explorers who took part on this incredible journey:
After weeks of talking about what to pack and last minute shopping trips at Asda, on the 25th of August 2024, at 7:30 am, 3rd Northwood Explorers headed for Stansted Airport to embark on the journey of a lifetime. At around 12pm, our group bravely boarded with Pegasus Airlines, and after 3 and a 1/2 hours of sleeping, eating and leg cramps, Alhamdulillah we landed safely in Turkiye. One coach ride later, and our team made it to the accommodation – Imam Hatip High School (Kartal, Asian side of Istanbul), where we were greeted by smiles, salaams and comfortable beds. After exploring the grounds, a hot dinner and a few rounds of basketball, we met the 80+ other Explorers and leaders that would be our family for the week. Following much needed showers, meeting some local cats and making the vital discovery of an ice cream parlour around the corner, we turned in for the night.
Day 1 – A Walking Tour of Istanbul
After a 6:00 am Fajr Jamaat (congregational prayer) in the school’s Masjid, a few more hours of sleep and a quick meeting with the resident cat, we got ready for a 10am train ride to Istanbul city centre. After a refreshing walk to Atalar train station and some beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea from the train, we met our tour guide for the day, Ibrahim, and began what ended as a 34,000 step hike. We stopped at the beautifully designed Fatih Mosque for Asr, where we petted yet more adorable cats and grabbed ice cream, before seeing the Blue Mosque as we headed to explore the world-renowned Aya Sofia. We stopped at a beautiful viewpoint to see the landmarks of Istanbul before a wild walk back to the accommodation for another round of basketball, showers and a good-night’s sleep after our 25.33km (more than a half marathon).
Day 2 – Turkish Art and Boat Rides
Once again, we began our day with the blessing of Allah SWT, through Fajr prayer. We then spent the morning embracing Turkish culture, through a traditional Turkish art workshop, which started with tile painting – painting plates, which were later baked, glazed and returned to us as a beautiful souvenir. Following that, we all tried Ebru art – a traditional art form, made by sprinkling and swirling paint on a base of oil, ‘water and duas’, creating a piece of artwork worthy of being framed for us to take home. After lunch, Dhuhr and an Explorer-led reminder we headed to the ports of Istanbul to catch a ferry across the Bosphorus. We took a trip to the Buyuk Mecidiye Mosque, grabbed an ice cream and then finished the day with a trip to the Blue Mosque for Maghreb salah.
Day 3 – Bursa
Day 3 brought Fajr, then an early start, as we prepared for 2-hours of singing Nasheeds on the coach to Bursa. Upon arriving, our tour started at the tombs of Sultans Osman and Orhan, founders of the Ottoman Empire, before a MSF group photo at the Bursa sign, followed by a wander through the beautiful city, energised by bowls of fresh grapes, to a bakery that has been around since the Ottoman era. After a trip to the beautiful Bursa Ulu Mosque, we grabbed chicken doner sandwiches and ice cream for lunch, made friends with some elderly ladies and then watched the ‘changing of the guards’ outside the graves of the Sultans, an unreal experience – almost like the film set of an Ertugrul (Turkish drama) episode, before heading to the incredible Bursa Museum. To finish the trip, we hiked a mountain for the prize of dinner of Iskender Kebap. After heading back to the accommodation, we grabbed (another) ice cream, fed Lulu (our adopted pet cat) and then crashed for the night.
Day 4 – Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus Boat Tour
It was Thursday already, and we started with Fajr, sleep and then an MSF workshop on the theme of identity, before having a delicious, hot lunch and then heading for the Grand Bazaar. Our journey through the Bazaar began with laughter, and after showing off our incredible haggling skills, we secured some beautiful abayas and boxes of Turkish Delight, before leaving, still laughing. We then jumped on a private ferry for some history talks, passing beautiful palaces, the Galatasaray football stadium, and the famous ‘Black Money Love’ family’s coastal home, before praying (a very wobbly) Maghreb on the boat, and then singing along to some beautiful nasheeds.
Day 5 – Sports, Jummah and Jenny
Jummah started by following the sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) through a group reading of Surah Kahf after Fajr. After a few more hours of sleep, we began our day with a sports programme, playing basketball and volleyball, before hopping on a coach, where we reflected on the ayats of Surah Kahf. Upon arriving at Medeniyetleri Muzesi we embraced the first rain we’d seen all week, then explored the museum, before praying Jummah at the incredible Camlica mosque. One more group photo, and then we headed back to the accommodation, where we met author Jenny Molendyk, who shared her beautiful story of how she found Islam with us. To finish off the day, we went for a walk down to the marina to watch the sunset, before an MSF workshop, Lahmacun and ice cream and a little more basketball.
Day 6 – Princess Island
Ready to make the most of our final day on this incredible trip, we had a late night, woke up to Sami Yusuf at Fajr, slept, then headed for a ferry to Princess Island. The boys headed for a swim, but after sleeping through breakfast, us girls decided food comes first, and headed to Munis Burger for lunch. We were greeted by the welcoming staff, laughed and ate incredible burgers, before trying some magic tricks that the owner taught us. We met Sarah the cat and fed her some treats, then got matching bracelets and headed back to the accommodation. After salah, some card games and a round of football, we showered, had a barbecue and then sadly said our goodbyes, hugged our new friends for life and headed for the airport at 1am.
The coach ride to the airport was filled with games, laughter and even more new friendships, before we boarded our flight home. Alhamdulilah, we arrived safely and were greeted by immigration staff, a late taxi and for the first time in a week, we had to put our jumpers on – a truly English welcoming. Alhamdulillah the trip was incredible, filled with laughter, dhikr and a new family for us all. A massive JazakAllah Khair to everyone who made the trip happen, and everyone who helped us along the way.
3rd Northwood Explorers
