From Istanbul, with Spain. 🇹🇷❤️🇪🇸 Our deepest condolences to the victims, their families and everyone affected by today’s tragic train accident in Toledo. The Selâm News community stands with you.

IN 1890, A JAPANESE FISHING VILLAGE SAVED 69 TURKISH SAILORS. 95 YEARS LATER, TURKEY PAID IT BACK 🇯🇵🇹🇷 September 1890. An Ottoman warship called the Ertugrul was heading home from Japan when a typhoon threw it onto the rocks near Kushimoto, at the southern tip of Japan's main island. More than 500 sailors died. The people of the small island nearby ran down to the water in the storm and pulled survivors out. By many accounts, they had very little food themselves, and gave the sailors what they had. 69 men survived. Japan sent them home on two of its own warships. Japan mostly forgot. Turkey didn't. Generations of Turkish kids learned the story at school. March 1985. War between Iran and Iraq. Iraq announced it would shoot down any plane over Iran after a deadline. More than 200 Japanese were stuck in Tehran, and under Japan's laws at the time, its own military planes could not go and get them. Turkey sent two Turkish Airlines planes. They flew 215 Japanese out before the deadline. When people later asked why, the answer from Turkey kept coming back to one word. Ertugrul. Today, Kushimoto still holds a memorial for the sailors, and Turkey still sends people to stand there.

🌊 Did you know… Bosnia and Herzegovina has a coastline of only about 21 km? At first glance, Bosnia and Herzegovina may look like a landlocked country on the map. But it actually has a small stretch of coastline along the Adriatic Sea, centered around the coastal town of Neum. According to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country’s coastline is approximately 21.2 km (13.2 miles) long. 📍 Neum is the country’s only coastal town and its only access to the Adriatic Sea. This narrow coastal corridor is surrounded almost entirely by Croatian territory, making Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coastline one of the most unusual geographic features in Europe. 🇭🇷 Just to the north and south, Croatia surrounds the Bosnian coastal strip. Croatia has an enormous and highly indented Adriatic coastline of about 6,278 km, including its mainland coast and islands, along with 1,244 islands, islets, rocks and reefs. 🗺️ The unusual border is a legacy of the region’s complex history. Today, Neum effectively creates a small interruption in Croatia’s otherwise continuous mainland coastline. 🌍 A tiny coastline, but a huge geographic story! Bosnia and Herzegovina may have only about 21 km of coast, but that short stretch gives the country direct access to the Adriatic Sea. Fun fact: The Pelješac Bridge, opened in 2022, allows traffic between northern and southern Croatia to bypass the Neum corridor rather than crossing Bosnian territory.

🏛️ THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE The Ottoman Empire was one of the longest-lasting and most influential empires in world history, existing for more than 600 years, from 1299 to 1922. 🔹 Origins: Founded by Osman I in the late 13th century, it began as a small principality in Anatolia and gradually expanded into a powerful empire. 🔹 Greatest Expansion: At its height, the empire controlled vast territories across Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, connecting three continents. 🔹 Capital: After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the city became the political and cultural center of the empire. It is known today as Istanbul. 🔹 Strategic Position: Ottoman territories surrounded major waterways and trade routes, including the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Red Sea, giving the empire enormous geopolitical importance. 🔹 Legacy: The Ottoman Empire left a lasting impact on architecture, culture, cuisine, art, politics and the history of numerous countries across Europe, Asia and Africa. 🌍 From a small Anatolian principality to a vast transcontinental empire, the Ottoman Empire played a major role in shaping the history of three continents. #OttomanEmpire #WorldHistory #HistoryFacts #HistoricalMaps #Geography #Empire #Istanbul #History

Today marks 31 years since the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 💔 🇧🇦 In July 1995, more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys were killed after Srebrenica, a UN-declared “safe area,” fell to Bosnian Serb forces. 31 years later, the pain is still unfolding. Today, 10 more newly identified victims are being laid to rest, while more than 1,000 victims remain missing. For many families, the genocide never ended. It lives on in the remains still being identified, the graves still being visited, and the denial they are still forced to fight. Today, we honor the victims, the survivors, and the Bosnian Muslim community that continues to carry this pain with dignity. May Allah grant the victims the highest ranks of Jannah and give strength to every family still grieving.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mothers in Türkiye and around the world. 🌸 A mother is every child’s first hero. No matter how old you are, if your mother is still alive, know that you are truly lucky. Mothers do not ask for expensive gifts or grand surprises. Sometimes, simply remembering them, hugging them, and showing love means more than anything else. In Turkish culture, we celebrate this special day by kissing our mothers’ hands and embracing them with love and respect. As the page admin, I kiss my mother’s hands with love and give her the biggest hug today. ❤️ Please don’t forget to hug your mother today. Mothers always have a special place above our heads and deep in our hearts. ❓Did you hug your mother today? #MothersDay #HappyMothersDay #Anne #AnneSevgisi #MotherLove #Family #Turkiye #Love #Respect #Mom #AnnelerGunu #TurkishCulture #FamilyFirst #MotherAndChild #Blessed

#InPhotos: Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr as Ramadan ends. The festival marks the conclusion of a month of fasting and devotion, bringing families and communities together in prayer, feasting, and joy. #EidAlFitr #RamadanEnds #EidCelebration #GlobalMuslims #IndiaTodayGlobal

The United States has a growing Muslim community and thousands of mosques spread across the country. According to research by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, there are approximately 2,700 to 3,000 mosques in America today. These mosques serve as places for daily prayers, Friday congregational prayers, Islamic education, and community activities. Over the past few decades, the number of mosques has increased significantly due to the rising Muslim population and immigration from different parts of the world. The Muslim population in the United States is estimated to be around 3.5 million people. Muslims in America come from diverse ethnic backgrounds including Arabs, South Asians, African Americans, Turks, and Africans. Because of this diversity, many mosques also function as cultural and community centers where people gather for religious learning, charity work, and social support. One of the largest and most well-known mosques in the country is the Islamic Center of America, located in Dearborn, Michigan. This mosque is famous for its beautiful architecture, large central dome, and tall minarets. It can accommodate more than 3,000 worshippers at a time and is considered one of the biggest Islamic centers in North America. Major cities such as New York City, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles have many mosques because they have large Muslim populations. These mosques play an important role in maintaining religious identity, promoting community unity, and supporting charitable and educational activities throughout the United States.

The Ottoman Empire at Its Peak – 1683 In 1683, the Ottoman Empire stood as one of the world’s most powerful states, stretching across three continents. 🔹 Territory – From Hungary in the heart of Europe to the Arabian deserts, from North Africa to the Caucasus, the empire spanned 6-7 million square kilometers. 🔹 Capital – Istanbul, once Constantinople, was a global hub of trade, culture, and politics. 🔹 Diversity – The empire united Turks, Arabs, Kurds, Greeks, Armenians, Slavs, Jews, and many more under a vast administrative system. 🔹 Military Power – The Janissaries and navy projected influence across the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and beyond. 🔹 1683 Vienna Campaign – Marked the high tide of Ottoman expansion into Europe, though the failed siege of Vienna also signaled the turning point of imperial fortunes. The Ottoman Empire in 1683 was not just a political force — it was a cultural mosaic and a major player in global history. A true ISLAMIC UNITY is not only the only solution to provide Peace, Tranquility, and Security today — just as the Ottoman State ensured for 600 years — but also the only path for the economic development of poor Islamic countries.

🧵 A Journey in Abraham's Footsteps – The Way Forward – Harran, the City of Stars “In the twilight of time, when the stars still spoke to men and the mountains bore names, Abraham was born – he who would become the father of faith for the people who followed the Scripture, the Cross and the Crescent. His name wandered through the desert winds, carried by Turki storytellers who gathered around the hearths in the heart of Mesopotamia. 🔥 “Listen, you who wander. For the wind of Harran carries old words, and the stars there still speak to those who dare to listen.” It is said that when Abraham left Urfa, it was not with a light heart. Behind him lay the miracle of fire, the fish in flames, and the wrath of King Nemrut. But before him – unknown land, and a sky that whispered. He wandered south, through dust and time, until he came to Harran – the city where the stars live. Here, the ancients say, he sat down on a stone by a dry well. He raised his eyes, and the night opened like a veil. 🌌 “First he saw the sun – great and burning. ‘This must be God,’ he said. But the sun sank behind the mountains, and darkness came.” 🌙 “Then he saw the moon – bright and gentle. ‘This must be God,’ he said. But the moon waned, and the stars took its place.” ✨ “Finally he saw the stars – a thousand lights, a thousand promises. And he said: ‘No… God is not the one who sets. God is the one who created all this.’” And the stars are said to have answered him. Not with words, but with light. They danced over Harran, and one of them fell – as a sign. Abraham stood up, knowing: The way forward was not his alone. It was for all who seek. 🧭 Harran – where the stars still speak 📍 Today you can follow in Abraham’s footsteps in Harran, Turkey. See the ancient beehive houses, built like small temples to the sky. Explore the ruins of temples and towers, where the stars were once worshipped. Harran is mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran – as a place where faith took shape. When night falls over plains and rocks, and you stand there alone under the sky, you can hear it: 🌬️ “God is not in what sets. God is in what endures.” Have you visited Harran? Or is it something you dream about?