As'salamu Alaikum Everyone,
There is currently in the Arabs' media and salafies a big attack on Turkey, and Muhammad Al-Fateh who opened Constantinople, as Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him prophesied, and the Hagia Sophia Mosque being turned into an actual Mosque today, and not just a museum. As always, they thrive on dumbing down Muslims and on being anti-Islam and hypocrites:
www.answering-christianity.com/ac11.htm#linksI have one challenge for any salafi to answer:
1- Why did Muawiyah send 20,000 troops to open Constantinople?
"The First Arab Siege of Constantinople in 674–678 was a major conflict of the Arab–Byzantine wars, and the first culmination of the Umayyad Caliphate's expansionist strategy towards the Byzantine Empire, led by Caliph Mu'awiya I. Mu'awiya, who had emerged in 661 as the ruler of the Muslim Arab empire following a civil war, renewed aggressive warfare against Byzantium after a lapse of some years and hoped to deliver a lethal blow by capturing the Byzantine capital, Constantinople." (
Source)
2- Muawiyah knew Prophet Muhammad in person. So he was first generation Muslim.
Here is my answer:
1- Muawiyah struggled with his title of being the Caliph of the transgressing Muslim group who calls Muslims to Hell, and who will kill Ammar bin Yasir who calls them to Heaven. This is Prophet Muhammad's prophecy on Ammar:
www.answering-christianity.com/blog/index.php/topic,2286.msg10434.html#msg104342- Muawiyah wanted to win the title
"The Fine Amir" who opens Constantinople. Again, this is Prophet Muhammad's prophecy for the Amir who will open Constantinople:
www.answering-christianity.com/prophecies_by_prophet_muhammad.htm (see prophecy #13)
So if Muhammad al-Fateh was wrong for opening Constantinople in year 1453, then why did Muawiyah, a first generation Muslim who knew the Prophet in person, attack the city? And why several Muslim caliphs after Muawiyah also attempted to open it but all failed?
Can any salafi answer this challenge?Osama