Imam Mustafa Efe has become an internet sensation for his welcoming attitude to the stray cats of Istanbul.
The Turkish city is known for the many stray felines that prowl its streets, earning the nickname ‘Catstantinople’ amongst many visitors.
While many of these street cats are shown affection by locals who leave out food or cushions for them to sleep on, Imam Efe has taken it a step further, throwing open the doors of Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque and welcoming them in with open arms.
Located in the ancient Üsküdar district, the mosque acts as a shelter for the cats against the harsh Turkish winter, which frequently sees temperatures drop below zero.
The cats seem to have made themselves quite at home in the mosque, frequently curling up for a nap on the carpet amid the mosque’s worshippers.
Ahmad Malas, Director of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which oversees Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque, says that “if cats come to the mosque, home, or to any individual, Muslims are obliged to be kind, feed and ensure no harm comes to them like any other animal that may come their way.”
Cats are often a popular pet for Muslims in Australia too.
“We get plenty of cats around Lakemba Mosque,” Malas told SBS. “They come and go – but not actually inside the mosque.”
Now that Imam Efe has taken to social media to share photos of his furry friends, he has become something of an internet celebrity as the images are shared far and wide.
One of his most popular posts is a video depicting a special “guest” – a mother cat who is shown carrying her litter of kittens inside the mosque, one by one to keep them safe.
While many praise Efe for his opening his heart, the Imam stays humble – writing that it’s actually the cat who is the compassionate one.
"The kitty has found the heart of compassion and mercy…," he wrote in the caption on the video.
Efe’s story has now melted hearts around the globe, with the video racking up more than 1.2 million views and his Facebook photos earning thousands of likes.
