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The Tekke offered accommodation to visiting Muslim pilgrims (hence the construction of the living quarters) but also served the needs of the Muslims on a day-to-day basis. It ministered the Friday congregational prayer and a muezzin administered the five-times-a day call to prayer from its minaret.
During the long period of Ottoman rule and, even today, the mosque is used in most of the major Islamic observances such as in the holy month of Ramadan “Id al-Fitr” (the festival of the breaking of the Fast of Ramadan) and “Kurban Bayram” “Id al-Adha” (the festival of sacrifice). It was customary to visit the Tekke on the third day of these holy months and to carry out those promises made for Hala Sultan. After British rule was established on the island in A.D 1878 the mosque continued to receive worshippers and pilgrims.
After A.D 1963 and A.D 1974 the number of worshippers to Umm Haram fell drastically. More recently with the easing of travel restrictions across the Green-Line, many more Turkish Cypriots have visited the Umm Haram site. Currently it is used by various Muslims who live on the island, various visitors from around the world and on special occasions important to the practice of the Muslim religion.
Presently, the mosque, minaret, and the mausoleum are being restored with funding from USAID and UNDP, and implemented through UNOPS in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus. |
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Rituals |
