"The resurrection of the Hagia Sophia, if Allah permits, is going to be a source of hope for the sad and oppressed people’s future and is going to be the first sign of the reascendance of our civilization which rises on the grounds of justice, mercy, and morals," Erbaş said.

Underlining that the Hagia Sophia has gone through another resurrection, Erbaş said: "If Allah permits, the resurrection of the Hagia Sophia is going to be the forerunner of the al-Masjid al-Aqsa’s reaching to independence. Its resurrection, if Allah permits, is going to be a source of hope for the sad and oppressed people’s future and is going to be the first sign of the reascendance of our civilization which rises on the grounds of justice, mercy, and morals."

Expressing his satisfaction for the Hagia Sophia’s conversion to a mosque again with the decision made by the Turkish Council of State and the Presidential regulation, Erbaş used the following expression in his letter, "First of all, like our every Muslim brother and sister, I would like to express my happiness and excitement for this change of status about the Hagia Sophia."

Touching upon the history of the Hagia Sophia, Erbaş stated: "Besides being the most ancient building in Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia is also a masterpiece which witnessed the history of 15 centuries within this country."

Highlighting that the Muslims has longed the Hagia Sophia for 86 years, Erbaş expressed that every Muslim in Turkey had love of Hagia Sophia in his heart and therefore people organized demonstrations, exhibited theatre plays, and wrote poems for years for the sake of its being converted to a place of worship again.

Reminding the happiness, which Muslims has when they met with Hagia Sophia as a place of worship, Erbaş went on to say: "Thanks to Allah, the interregnum of the Hagia Sophia has ended today. With the wisdom of our esteemed President, the Hagia Sophia has been converted to a place of worship in which Muslims may prostrate. If Allah permits, the resurrection of the Hagia Sophia is going to be the forerunner of the al-Masjid al-Aqsa’s reaching to independence. Its resurrection, if Allah permits, is going to be a source of hope for the sad and oppressed people’s future and is going to be the first sign of the reascendance of our civilization which rises on the grounds of justice, mercy, and morals."

Expressing his congratulations to the religious leaders of the Muslim world for the approaching Eid al-Adha, Erbaş concluded his remarks as follows: "I hope that we are going to have the chance to establish prayer at the Hagia Sophia Mosque with you in the same row at the earliest convenience and I would like to express my sincerest salams and respects to you." (ILKHA)