The Show- Ertugrul (Dirilis/Resurrection) Has Inspired Not Only Travel but Expatriation to Turkey

Original canvas painting I did to honor the Kayi Tribe along with the Shahadah. This original has been sold but high quality prints are available. If you'd like an original painted for  you like this, visit my shop. 

The Turkish Drama series known commonly as Ertugrul has captivated the collective heart of the Islamic World. The show's name, Dirilis meaning Resurrection, couldn't be a better title given that it has in a sense awakened what some call, "The Sleeping Giant." The Muslim world today is villainized, scrutinized, oppressed and disunited. It is almost eerie seeing our Ummah, our Muslim nation in the past, scattered and disunited- mirroring the current state of the Muslims. As much as uniting the Muslim nations seemed an impossible task for the Kayi tribe back then, it seems just as impossible today. 

Imagery from the show Dirilis (Ertugrul) inspire our hearts

We were mesmerized by these enormous round artwork in the Hagia Sophia. 

This is an exquisite place outdoors where people can make wudu/ablution to cleanse themselves before prayer

But watching what they did with far less resources, has given hope and inspiration to Muslims across the globe. While you watch the series, you get locked so deep in the story that took place hundreds of years ago , even moved to tears at times. Until you have to take a break to get some chai or a take a bathroom break because, the episodes are 2 hours long. That little reality break pulls you back and you may think about how this show is in fact a Turkish show, shot in the land of the descendants of the very people who united the Muslim lands and had the longest standing Khilafah. 

I love how the Sultan's insignia is at the gate to the bazaar. It is impressive to say the least. 

You may think for a moment that the current leader of the Turkish land, Recep Erdogan has sanctified this show. Maybe your mind wonders if there is a political reason for this or if it he is sincerely trying to wake the Muslims across the world. 

This is something you can purchase at the Hagia Sophia

Whatever the intentions are, and no matter what anyone does now, the deed has been done and it many have woken up. People have started wondering, questioning and researching our Islamic History. Muslims from around the world are deciding to visit Turkey to see the land where people shed their blood for the banner of Islam to wave high and proud for centuries. 

We stopped by a carpet store where they unroll countless Turkish rugs and will ship to America for you.

I found this article and others like it explaining how various cities in Turkey have seen a sizeable increase in tourism due to the show Ertugrul. Take Sogut for example. I only know of Sogut because it was talked about so much in the show. Sogut : The First Ottoman Capital Now a Tourist Host

A room in the Hagia Sophia set up for reading Quran

My husband and I always said we would always try to travel overseas to make Umrah and didn't give much thought to visiting other countries until we watched Dirilis. In the fall of 2018, we booked a 10 day stay in Turkey to visit Istanbul and Alanya. 

Some of the beautiful Christian artwork depicting an angel in Hagia Sophia

The Muslim Chaplain from Harvard organized an Islamic Civilization and Arabic Language tour of Turkey in the summer of 2019. Totaly of around 75 people with about 35 or so people from the Dallas- Fort Worth area including my family went along to spend 4 weeks visiting various historic cities in Turkey and learning Arabic at Aromer, 29 Mayis University's Arabic Language Institute. 

Today, we meet people all the time who have either visited Turkey, want to visit Turkey as a result of the show. But more than that, I have been meeting and hearing about families actually leaving the USA,buying properties or renting in Turkey and starting their lives over there. These are not people who speak Turkish or have any family ties there. Is the show enough reason for people to want to relocate to another country? 

Once you visit, you will see the show gets you to visit, but many other things make you want to make it your residence and the spirit of the place, beckons your heart to feel this is your true home.  

Here are a few seconds of video of our first trip to Istanbul in Nov 2018:

With my two visits combined, I've spent nearly two months in Turkey. I've visited Bursa, Konya, Alanya, and stayed in both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. From my experience, these are the top three reasons non-Turkish people, like myself, want to live in Turkey. 

1. The People

- They're friendly, genuine, hard working, sincere, hospitable and down to earth

2. The Beauty 

-Both natural and manmade- the landscape,-the architecture -the care that everything is built with- beauty in the old architecture and beauty in the new- beauty in the mountains- the sea-the flowers and the beaches-seagulls and cats across the city and dolphins swimming in the Bosphorus. 

3. The Prices

-The American Dollar goes very far, clothing, food, rent, utilities, gas, everything is much cheaper-Americans can live off savings for months at a time and go back to the US to work for a bit then come back-Americans can teach English for work-Americans can work jobs remotely getting paid in US Dollars and live in Turkey very inexpensively

But beyond all three, the soul of the land is palpable and very real which can only be experienced once you spend adequate time there. Go for a visit and engage with the people, the land and the air long enough and your heart is likely to attach in a way that you may have never imagined. Till this day, when I see footage of Turkey, my heart leaps out a bit because it knows that is truly home.

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