22/07/2025
✨ A Spiritual Journey Through Southeast Turkey ✨
A long read, we know… but if you love history and spirituality, you’ll enjoy this one.
After our group departed for South Africa, we took the opportunity to explore the lesser-known yet spiritually rich southeast region of Turkey — with the intention of offering this unique destination as part of our future travel packages, In Sha Allah.
We arrived in Şanlıurfa in the early hours of the morning and went straight to one of the city’s most sacred historical sites: Balıklıgöl, or the Pool of Sacred Fish. According to Islamic tradition, this is the site where Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) was cast into a fire by King Ni**od (Nemrut) for rejecting idolatry. Allah commanded the fire to be cool and safe, transforming it into water and the burning wood into fish. While it's uncertain whether the fish today descend from that moment, they remain sacred and protected to this day.
We visited the cave believed to be the birthplace of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.), a site deeply revered in Islamic tradition. Nearby lies the Tomb of Maryam (Mary, peace be upon her) — mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus, A.S.) — another place of immense spiritual significance.
Our visit continued to a section of the complex housing sacred relics, including strands from the Blessed Beard of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his footprint, and a historic Kiswah (covering of the Ka'bah) from many decades ago. These relics were brought to Turkey during the Ottoman Empire for safekeeping and preservation.
We were also honored to visit the resting place of Shaykh Ali al-Shadhili q.s, a spiritual luminary of the Shadhili Sufi order from Tunisia, whose influence and presence in Urfa is still deeply felt. Close by is the seclusion room of Sayyid Kadir, a respected local saint known for his spiritual devotion — not his burial site, but a preserved space where he would enter khalwa (spiritual retreat).
The compound is extensive and features beautiful architecture, mosaics, and a lively bazaar where one can experience the local culture and crafts.
From there, we journeyed to the peaceful town of Halfeti, known for its partially submerged old city and a serene boat cruise along the Euphrates River, with scenic mountain views and glimpses of history peeking through the landscape.
📸 Swipe through for a glimpse into this sacred and inspiring journey.
Would you be interested in joining us on a future tour to Southeast Turkey?