for causing Islam to prevail and granting it might.” (1)

Further support for the view that the army which will conquer Constantinople consists of the descendants of Isaac is that the Roman army will number nearly one million. Some of them will be killed, while others will embrace Islam, and those who embrace Islam will join the Muslim army that conquers Constantinople. Allah knows best.

The conquest of Constantinople without battle has not yet occurred. Al-Tirmidhī narrated from Anas ibn Mālik that he said, “The conquest of Constantinople will coincide with the advent of the Hour.”

Al-Tirmidhī then said, “Mahmūd—that is, Ibn Ghaylān, al-Tirmidhī’s teacher—said, ‘There is a singular hadith concerning this. Constantinople is the city of the Romans. It will be conquered when the Dajjāl emerges. Constantinople was conquered during the lifetime of some of the Prophet’s Companions.’” (2)

The correct view, however, is that Constantinople was not conquered during the era of the Companions. Muāwiya—may Allah be pleased with him—sent his son Yazīd there with an army that included Abū Ayyūb al-Ansārī, but they did not succeed in conquering it. Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik later besieged it, but it was not conquered then either. He did, however, conclude a peace treaty with its inhabitants stipulating that a mosque be built there. (3)

The Turks’ conquest of Constantinople was likewise achieved through battle. It is now in the hands of the disbelievers, but it will be conquered one final time, as foretold by the truthful one whose truthfulness is attested—peace and blessings be upon him.

Ahmad Shākir said, “The conquest of Constantinople foretold in the hadith will take place