ADNAN OKTAR: Turkey will lead the whole world, insha’Allah. That will become even more definite with the coming of the Messiah. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will come from Turkey, and has already done so. Istanbul is the place. It is not me who says that, but our Prophet (saas). There are 8 or 9 hadith about his coming from Istanbul. They ask Rasulullah (saas) about it, and he says, “Hazrat Mahdi (as) will come from Medina.” They then ask, “Which Medina, O Rasulullah?” They have it made clear. “Constantinople,” he says. Istanbul. It was known as Constantinople at the time. And that put the matter to rest. It is over and done with in the sight of Allah. Istanbul was designed specially. Allah prepared it specially for Hazrat Mahdi (as).

Qur’an refers to a place where two seas meet. He will be an adorned, beautiful and magnificent leader, and Istanbul has been so adorned since it will be the spiritual bastion. And Allah has bestowed it on the Turks. Can you ever imagine the Christian world saying, here is Istanbul, please take it. Is that possible? Almighty Allah gave Istanbul to the Turks because that is where Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear. It was given to us in trust, insha’Allah. And it has been beautified from end to end, with mosques, roads and trees. He had that preparation made for the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as). Istanbul began to be beautified as far back as the time of Sultan Fatih the Conqueror. Because Hazrat Mahdi (as) would be coming. That is the reason for all these mosques, roads and trees... All the roads were lined with trees. Even those trees are awaiting Hazrat Mahdi (as), insha’Allah. Look, there are trees that have been waiting for hundreds of years, since the time of Sultan Fatih, the Conqueror. 

PRESENTER: The conquest of Istanbul was a great event. Something that happened through the direct will of Allah. It looked impossible for the Turks to conquer it under those conditions. 

ADNAN OKTAR: A miracle happened. The Qur’an refers to “a good land.” Baldatun tayyibatun. Numerological calculation gives the date 1453 for the conquest of Constantinople. The city is being taken now with the takbir and monotheism. Its spiritual walls are being reinforced with love and brotherhood. We are getting ready to assume the leadership of the world, insha’Allah. They can read the newspaper reports every day.