* Hails the restoration as more than 30 million people visit the historic mosque
Turkish people have poured encomiums on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Türkiye marked six years since the historic reopening of the Hagia Sophia (also known as Ayasofya) Grand Mosque for Muslim worship, with many describing the move as one of the defining achievements of his leadership.
The anniversary triggered an outpouring of tributes from senior government officials, academics, religious figures and citizens, who praised Erdoğan’s determination in restoring the centuries old monument to its original status as a mosque after it had functioned as a museum for 86 years.
Muslim News monitored dozens of congratulatory messages on the X platform, where prominent Turkish government officials, academics and public figures hailed the reopening of Ayasofya six years ago as the fulfilment of a long cherished aspiration.
President Erdoğan also joined the commemoration after observing Jumu’ah prayers at the Hz. Ali Mosque in Istanbul.
In a message posted on Türkiye’s social media platform, NSosyal, the Turkish leader reflected on the significance of the anniversary.
🔴 Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan:
Ayasofya’yı ibadete açmak bize nasip oldu.
Alem-i İslam’a kavuşturma şerefine nail olduk. 6. sene-i devriyesinde böyle bir mutluluğu beraber yaşıyoruz.pic.twitter.com/dGtGtZHcGl
— Mahfil (@mahfildijital) July 24, 2026
“Six years ago today, Ayasofya regained its original identity after 86 years of longing. God willing, this blessed place of worship will continue to echo with the call to prayer forever. May the revival of Ayasofya be blessed,” Erdoğan said.
His remarks came six years after the first Friday prayers were held inside Hagia Sophia following its reopening on July 24, 2020.
Officials applaud Erdoğan’s courage
Among those whose messages were monitored by Muslim News on X was Ali Bakan, Deputy Chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party, AK Party, responsible for Local Governments.
Bakan described the reopening as the answer to years of prayers, saying President Erdoğan’s courage and firm leadership made the historic decision possible.
“Zincirler kırıldı, Ayasofya açıldı!”
Yıllar süren dualar nihayete erdi. Genel Başkanımız ve Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın @RTErdogan’ın cesur kararı ve güçlü liderliğiyle medeniyetimizin sembolü, Fatih’in emaneti Ayasofya-i Kebîr Cami-i Şerîfi 86 yıl aradan sonra 20 Temmuz 2020’de… pic.twitter.com/YmsIKln2Mr
— Ali Bakan (@AliBakantr) July 24, 2026
“Chains are broken, Hagia Sophia is opened,” he wrote, adding that the mosque, which he described as the symbol of Islamic civilisation and the legacy of Sultan Mehmed II, would continue to resonate with the call to prayer until the Day of Judgment.
Parliamentarian celebrates restoration
Also celebrating the anniversary was Necmettin Erkan, Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly representing Sakarya Province and Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Works,
Erkan said Hagia Sophia, entrusted to the Muslim Ummah by Sultan Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinople, regained its original identity through the strong political will demonstrated by President Erdoğan.
He recalled that six years ago, the call to prayer once again rose beneath its historic dome as Muslims gathered in rows for congregational prayers after an interruption of 86 years.
Academics express gratitude
Associate Professor Dr Şuayip Birinci, President of the Turkish Health Institutes, also paid tribute to President Erdoğan.
Bir medeniyetin mührü yeniden ezanla yankılandı…
Bugün, Ayasofya-i Kebîr Cami-i Şerîfi’nin 86 yıllık hasretin ardından yeniden ibadete açılışının 6. yıl dönümü. Bu tarihî ana öncülük eden Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın @RTErdogan‘a şükranlarımızı sunuyorum.
Rabbim, #Ayasofya‘nın… pic.twitter.com/CZ6kaiAked
— Doç. Dr. Şuayıp Birinci (@suayipbirinci) July 24, 2026
He described the reopening as the return of the seal of an enduring civilisation, thanking the Turkish President for leading what he called a historic moment in the nation’s history.
Birinci prayed that the calls to prayer from the minarets of Ayasofya would continue forever while worshippers keep filling the mosque beneath its magnificent dome.
Similarly, Professor Dr Kurtuluş Karamustafa, Rector of Kayseri University, congratulated the Turkish nation on the sixth anniversary of what he described as the restoration of an ancestral trust.
Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’ın [@RTErdogan] liderliğinde, 86 yıllık vuslatın ardından aslına rücu eden ecdad yadigarı, fethin nişanesi Ayasofya-i Kebîr Cami-i Şerîfi’nin yeniden ibadete açılışının 6. yıl dönümü kutlu olsun.🇹🇷
#AyasofyaCamii #AyasofyaİKebirCamii… pic.twitter.com/6gdZcPgqGe
— Prof. Dr. Kurtulus Karamustafa 🇹🇷 (@ProfKaramustafa) July 24, 2026
According to him, Hagia Sophia returned to its original purpose through President Erdoğan’s unwavering leadership after an absence of 86 years.
A monument with a rich history
Originally constructed as a church in the sixth century during the Byzantine Empire, Hagia Sophia served as a Christian place of worship for 916 years.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II converted it into a mosque.
It remained a mosque until 1934 when a Cabinet decree transformed it into a museum during the early years of the Turkish Republic.
On July 10, 2020, Türkiye’s Council of State annulled the 1934 decree, paving the way for the monument to reopen as a mosque. The first Friday prayers were held there on July 24, 2020, with President Erdoğan among thousands of worshippers.
More than 30 million visitors
The Ayasofya Grand Mosque has continued to attract visitors from around the world since its reopening.
🇹🇷🕌 Hagia Sophia welcomes over 30M visitors since reopening 6 years ago
📍 Istanbul’s historic mosque remains one of Türkiye’s top landmarks, welcoming worshippers and tourists as restoration work continues https://t.co/0y1xVx7x9h pic.twitter.com/7RZUmYOpaT
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) July 24, 2026
According to official figures, more than 30 million people have visited the historic mosque over the past six years, making it one of Türkiye’s most visited religious and cultural landmarks.
Istanbul Deputy Mufti Arif Çevlek said the reopening fulfilled a longing that Muslims had carried for decades.
He explained that Ayasofya now serves not only as a place of worship but also as a centre for Quranic education and religious learning. He added that pilgrimage groups from countries such as Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Indonesia now regularly include the mosque in their itineraries.
Allah minarelerimizden ezan sesini eksik etmesin…
Ayasofya Camii-Kebir 🇹🇷🤲#AyasofyadaFetihRuhu pic.twitter.com/OKRiMDMKlU
— 𓃦🇹🇷͜͜͡͡✯ ☪︎ 𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰜 ☪︎ 🇹🇷͜͜͡͡✯ 𓃥 (@NmtLyLa1) July 24, 2026
Çevlek said about 120 personnel currently provide daily services at the mosque while restoration work continues under carefully supervised conditions to preserve the historic structure for generations to come.
A lasting symbol
For many Turks, the anniversary represented more than the reopening of a historic building.
The messages monitored by Muslim News reflected a shared belief that the restoration of Hagia Sophia as a mosque symbolises the preservation of Türkiye’s historical identity and Islamic heritage, with many praying that the call to prayer would continue to rise from its minarets for generations to come.
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