Part 41
By Harith Ubaidah
At this point in the battle, Justinian, the commander of the defending forces, was seriously wounded and forced to withdraw. The Christian army, whose morale had already been shaken, weakened even further after its commander fell. Justinian boarded a ship and fled the battlefield. After his departure, Emperor Constantine himself took command of the army. He did everything he could to restore the fighting spirit of his discouraged soldiers and steady their collapsing ranks, but all his efforts proved futile.
While Constantine was trying to rally his men, Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih fought the enemy with sword in hand, shattering the morale of the Christian army. At the same time, the Ottomans continued their assaults on other parts of the city. Many of their soldiers had reached the city walls, and some had even climbed the towers. They overran the troops stationed at the Gate of the Bridge of the Blachernae and raised the Ottoman banner there.
Once the way was opened, the Ottoman army poured into the city with great force and determination. When Constantine saw the Ottoman banner flying over the city’s northern gate, he lost hope and realized that further resistance was hopeless. He took off his royal robes and dressed himself as an ordinary soldier so that he would not be recognized. Dismounting from his horse, he found himself alone, with no one left to stand beside him. He fought for a short time before finally being killed on the battlefield.
As news of Constantine’s death spread, the enthusiasm of the Ottoman army grew even stronger, while fear swept through the enemy’s ranks. Ottoman forces entered the city from different directions, and the Christian army, seeing its leader dead, broke and fled. Constantinople had fallen into Muslim hands.
Mounted on his horse, Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih shared the joy of victory with his companions. His commanders came forward one after another to congratulate him, and he replied: “Praise be to Allah. May Allah have mercy on the martyrs and grant honor to the mujahideen. This is a source of pride for the entire Ummah, and gratitude to Allah is due from us all.”
The city also contained defensive tunnels, where many Ottoman soldiers were martyred during the fighting. Most of the inhabitants, especially those near the churches, fled in panic.
It was the twentieth of Jumada al-Awwal, 857 AH, corresponding to 29 May 1453. It was a bright, radiant day, with the sun shining brilliantly. On that historic day, Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih rode through the heart of the city with his commanders, while the words on everyone’s lips were:
“Masha’Allah!”
The Sultan then addressed his army, saying:
“You have been granted the honor of conquering Constantinople. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) gave glad tidings about those who would conquer this city, saying that they would be the finest army.”
He congratulated his soldiers on the honor and distinction they had earned and ordered them to treat the people with kindness. He forbade them from looting, killing, and committing injustice, and instructed them to show compassion toward the inhabitants. He then dismounted from his horse, prostrated himself in gratitude before Allah, praised and glorified Him, and stood before his Lord in humility and submission.
