Ramadan Month in Turkey

Turkish Muslims welcome the holy month of Ramadan with joy and joy, as is the case with all Islamic peoples throughout the Islamic world. The public appearances made by this Muslim people upon the arrival of the month of Ramadan are the greatest evidence and the truest proof of the depth and entrenchment of Islam, despite all the attempts that have been made and are continuing to distance this people from their religion.

The city of Istanbul represents the Islamic symbol in the memory of the Turkish people. It was the seat of the Islamic Caliphate for a period of more than five centuries, and it also contains a large number of mosques and Islamic monuments, not to mention the sacred prophetic trusts that Sultan Selim I brought upon his return from the Arab East. The most common manifestations of Ramadan among these people are in this city, which includes a large percentage of the population, amounting to fourteen million or more. In this city, the Qur’an is read daily during this month in the former Topkapı Palace, and the reading continues in this palace without interruption. Interruption day or night.

Muslims in Turkey rely on astronomical calculations to confirm the month of Ramadan, and few people go out to observe the Ramadan crescent. The Turkish Religious Affairs Authority is responsible for announcing the start of the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan.

With the official announcement of the start of the Holy Month, the minarets of mosques throughout Turkey are lit during the Maghrib prayer, and remain so until dawn the next day, and the matter continues in this manner throughout the days of the Holy Month. The appearance of lighting the minarets of mosques is known to Turkish Muslims as (Vision), and it is the appearance that expresses the joy and delight of this people with the arrival of the blessed month. For each of the large mosques there are at least two minarets, some have four minarets, and others have six minarets. It is customary with the beginning of this month to stretch ropes between the lighthouses, and what they write is read from far away places due to its clarity and breadth.

The spread of religious lessons in mosques and the reading of the Qur’an is a prominent feature of this month among Turks. Especially in the city of Istanbul, which is famous for its huge mosques and luxurious minarets, the forefront of which is the Hagia Sophia Mosque. The time for these lessons begins with the afternoon prayer, and continues until near the time of sunset, and the famous mosques in this month are seen filled with worshipers, preachers, listeners, and circling spectators, both women and men.

It is customary in Turkey that when the time for the Maghrib call to prayer comes, cannons fire some shots, and then the call to prayer follows in the mosques. After eating breakfast, everyone rushes immediately; Children, youth, women and men head towards the mosques to secure a place in the mosque where they can perform the evening and Tarawih prayers. Being late for that or slowing down in haste may deprive the worshiper of a place in the mosque, thus forcing him to pray outside the mosque, or on the side of the road.

The increased enthusiasm among the Turks for performing Tarawih prayers is a prominent manifestation of the joy and warmth of this holy month, as Tarawih prayers receive an unparalleled turnout from all segments of the Turkish people, which is a clear indication of the great love and great respect that the members of this people have for this holy month. However, it is noticeable in this prayer that it is performed quickly, as only a small portion of the Qur’an is recited in it, and few mosques commit to reading the complete conclusion of the Tarawih prayer during this blessed month.

Turkish cuisine needs no introduction, and what concerns us is how it is in Ramadan. People there usually start their breakfast with dates, olives and cheese, before eating their main meals. There are two groups of people in this situation: one group breaks the fast with dates and a little food, goes to perform the Maghrib prayer, then returns again to eat its main meal, and these are the least. The second group eats its full meal, then gets up to perform the Maghrib prayer, after having had its share of food and drink. This team is the most months of the Turks.

(Soup) is the most prominent and most important food on the Turkish breakfast table, in addition to some of the dishes for which the Turkish household is famous. One of the special foods of this month among the Turks is bread, which they call “pide,” which means “unleavened bread,” which is a word of Persian origin. This type of bread is in unparalleled demand this month, to the point that people line up at the bakeries hours before breakfast to get this type of bread, which stimulates the appetite for food and makes them forget the fatigue of fasting.

(Kunafa), (Qatayef) and (Baklava) are among the most popular types of desserts that Turkish Muslims eat during this holy month. Perhaps it would be useful to conclude our conversation about Turkish cuisine by saying: The Turkish Muslim people are among the most Islamic peoples that have a distinct culture of food and drink, in terms of preparation, taste, and quality.