Two leading companions: Qusam bin Abbas and Abu Ayyub al-Ansari and two important cities: Samarkand and Istanbul

It is noteworthy that most of the Companions passed away outside of Arabia. Looking back, it is evident that leading Companions took part in strategic and global conquest movements. Two leading Companions who were close to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and two important cities in which they participated in the conquest changed the course of history. Qusam bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was the son of the Prophet's uncle, Hazrat Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), and was very close to the Messenger of Allah. This person, who was among the Muhajirs, served as the governor of Mecca during the time of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), then briefly in Medina, and performed the duty of the pilgrimage emir. During the Umayyad period, he participated in the Khorasan campaign and was martyred during the conquest of Samarkand. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) was from the Ansar and was a relative of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When our Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Medina, he stayed as a guest in his house for a while. Abu Ayyub participated in all the ghazats during the time of the Messenger of Allah and also served as his bodyguard. He participated in various ghazats during the time of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, and in one of them, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) left him as his representative in Medina. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) died during the siege of Istanbul. These two Companions share common characteristics in their closeness to the Prophet and the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs, their services during the time of Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and their participation in the conquest expeditions during the Umayyad period. The cities of Samarkand and Istanbul, in which they participated in the conquest, have geo-strategic and geo-political characteristics and have led to global growth and changes in terms of Islamic culture and Muslim-Turkish states. The influence and important role of the Companions in the Turks' acceptance of Islam and serving it is undeniable. Samarkand was one of the central cities in the Turks' assimilation of Islam, the development of Islamic culture, and the establishment of Muslim Turkish states. Istanbul, on the other hand, was conquered under the shadow of Muhammad's prophecies and good tidings, and it is a city that changed history with its conquest at a time when the Turks' service to Islam reached its peak. These two Companions and two cities made historical changes. There are many graves of Companions on Earth. However, these cities, where these two leading Companions are buried, have been the center of strategic, global developments.