Visiting the Sultan: Istanbul as a Part of the Pilgrimage Route from Russia

In the second half of the 19th- early 20th century, many Russian Muslims pilgrims, on their way to Mecca and Medina, would stop in the capital of the caliphate, Istanbul. The city had by then became part of the pilgrimage route. In Istanbul, pilgrims could visit the graves of the Prophet’s companions, see sacred Islamic relics, pray in mosques alongside the caliph of all Muslims, and immerse themselves in the religious traditions of the Ottoman Empire. Additionally, pilgrims could participate in the processions of the sultan’s caravan known as surra-i humayun, and some were even fortunate enough to join it on the journey to Hajj. One such fortunate individual was the Tatar imam Nurgali bin Hasan (1852–1919), who was a guest at the sultan’s palace and embarked on a journey to the Hij az as part of the sultan’s caravan.