Stray cats make their home in historic Istanbul mosque

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

AA Photos

A young, sweet-voiced Turkish imam recites the Quran while leading dawn prayers at a historic Istanbul mosque.        

In contrast to his intense concentration, a grayish-colored cat alternates between licking its fur and looking detachedly at more than 300 early-bird worshippers. It seems unmoved by the congregation’s devotion or their youthful imam.

However, neither the imam nor the worshippers are offended by the presence of the cat inside their place of worship; they follow their rituals as usual.

A peaceful cohabitation exists inside the mosque as if cats and worshippers have struck an agreement.


In fact, this harmony has been in place for a long time; the cats and worshippers do not disturb each other and even enjoy one another’s company.
 
“Cats have been with us during prayers and sermons. They do not spoil the peace inside the mosque. Worshippers love them as well,” said Mustafa Efe, the imam at the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque in Istanbul’s Üsküdar.

Efe unexpectedly found fame recently after social media exploded with footage taken from his mosque showing cats mingling with worshippers.

In one clip, an anxious mother cat drags her kittens one-by-one up the steep steps of the minbar, an area usually reserved for a preaching imam. 

At the moment, there are 10 stray felines in and around Efe’s mosque. Their numbers vary because the cats are free to come and go; some leave the little cat community and are replaced by felines from elsewhere.

“Cats have always been a part of this community,” said Efe, who joined the mosque’s religious classes in 1990. Part of the reason for the notoriously free-spirited animals’ loyalty could be that they have been fed and sheltered by the mosque. 

“This mosque has a food bank for people. A part of this food has been distributed to these cats,” Efe said, adding that worshippers have also helped in taking care of stray felines. 

Efe welcomes stray cats, particularly during the winter season. In an effort to explain his decision, Efe said, “It is something any Muslim should do.”        


Great attention on social media 

It may be natural for Efe, but photographs of him with his cats have attracted great interest on social media. Many papers and news websites have published the images, with comments praising the imam’s sensitivity.

“There has been a huge interest in these photographs,” Efe acknowledged, saying they attracted more than a billion clicks.

According to him, his decision was a natural result of his religious belief and the city’s long-running hospitality for animals.

Cats have long been considered ritually clean in Islamic tradition. Prophet Muhammad told his followers that cats were to be considered part of their family.

Historical tales recall that a cat prevented a snake from biting the Prophet Muhammad. In another instance, when the Prophet Muhammad saw his cat was sleeping on the edge of his cloak, he cut around the sleeping animal so as not to disturb it.


According to one of the Prophet Muhammad’s sayings, a faithful woman was punished in the afterlife just because she chained and starved a cat.

This coexistence is historical in Turkey. Architects added a special place to mosques’ outer walls for birds so that they can nest. Cats also wander around mosques to seek food.

This tradition of mercy often spilled over into the troubled human realm. 

During the Ottoman era, some senior officials, including grand viziers, the equivalent of modern-day prime ministers, took refuge in the Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque after being sentenced to death for some infraction.

“Ottoman sultans pardoned these bureaucrats due to Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi,” Efe said, emphasizing how cats also find refuge here during their difficult times.

For this ancient city, cats undoubtedly are a part of its life and popular culture. Some people even compare cows in India with cats in Istanbul to highlight the unique place felines enjoy in the metropolis.  
     
It is not surprising to see people giving food to stray cats or placing cushions on sidewalks so that felines can sleep more comfortably.    


Istanbul’s cats 

Efe’s adventures are just one example of Istanbul cats’ popularity on social media. Facebook and Instagram are filled with photographs of cats amusing Istanbulites. “Cats of Istanbul,” a popular Instagram account, has 8,000 followers. 

On the big screen, an animated movie called “Kötü Kedi Şerafettin” (Bad Cat Şerafettin) will open on Feb. 5. The movie, based on a long-running cartoon, narrates the cat hero’s dangerous adventures in Istanbul. 

A new documentary, simply called “Kedi” (Cat) and featuring a cast of strays will also be released soon.