As a non-muslim I am interested in but my understanding is limited on the fasting that takes place during Ramazan and would like to get some Turkish views on it. Here are some questions that would help my understanding.

What percentage of the population fasts?
Is it the same for men and women?
How old are you when you start?
What about women who are pregnant or breastfeeding?
What about the elderly and the ill (hospitals etc)?
Do you feel thirsty if you cant drink?
How do you cope during the first few days?
What is it like when you begin to eat during the day again?
Do you lose weight?

Another thing that I would like to know about: The fast food (kebabs and peanut/chestnut sellers etc) do they carry on with their business during fasting period?

I apologise if I appear ignorant but I am intriged on how you cope as I cant imgaine not drinking water during the day.

Hi Libralady,

Hmmm well, I asked my fiance some questions about this... he is Turkish BTW. He said he does not get thirsty at all when he is fasting... also, I think he was about 8 or 10 when he started. Elderly only do it if they are well... and obviously the sick cannot do it for health reasons. I am not sure about everything else.... but it's all so interesting don't you think? I gave my fiance the 3rd degree a couple of weeks ago about fasting because it is something I know nothing about.



Oh and I almost forgot, he also said that the 1st cigarette he can have after 6pm makes him feel so dizzy.... hehehehe!!! Shouldn't smoke then I think!!!

What percentage of the population fasts?
Is it the same for men and women?
How old are you when you start?
What about women who are pregnant or breastfeeding?
What about the elderly and the ill (hospitals etc)?
Do you feel thirsty if you cant drink?
How do you cope during the first few days?
What is it like when you begin to eat during the day again?
Do you lose weight?

the muslim population will fast..well they should do..
yes its the same for men and women..
normally around 12 you are expected to begin
women who are pregnant or breastfeeding do not participate/or are not expected to..
the elderly do it if they are well but the ill are exempt from fasting..but they must make up this time another time if they are able to do so..
people on their periods also are exempt from fasting..to do so would be disrespectful..
yes it makes u thirsty
it makes u very full when u eat normally again and makes u realise how lucky you are to have food most of the time..
yes u lose weight because you can't overindulge even when it is time to eat...
hope this helps

with a few words i can say fasting is to find peace on ur body and in ur soul.and not easy to explain it with words,u have to try and seeits really nice to be thirsty while the waterfalls near with you,its nice to be hungry while many yummy foods near around you,and best its always nice to be away from bad habbits while to be thirsty and hungry reminding u you are a humanand there r many easies about fasting for pregnants ,elders and ills

What percentage of the population fasts?
That i don't know cause i'm not turkish,but most Muslims do
Is it the same for men and women?
İt is same for men and women,except women don't fast on their period
But they make those days up starting after Bayram till before Ramazan next year
How old are you when you start?
Kids start at 7 for practice,and to make them love it,but not fasting full day,and it's not an obligation on them to fast,
Maybe less than 7 too,but in that case kids do eat first,then fast about 2 hours or something then we make them eat again,something like that,and they love it so they feel they are older now
Obligation start when boys and gırls become adult,and that is normaly starting from 13 yrs old,depend on each person
What about women who are pregnant or breastfeeding?
Also women who are pregnant or breastfeeding they shouldn't fast,but they also make those days up in different ways.
What about the elderly and the ill (hospitals etc)?
Elderly do fast too,if their health help them,but if not,they don't fast along with ill people too,and they make it up by paying money for each day they didn't fast,pay the amount of money that can provide an adult person lunch
İn that way,they would still have the reward of fasting from ALLAH,as if they fasted.
Do you feel thirsty if you cant drink?
Only in very hot days we feel thirsty,when its 37 c or up,but otherwise we don't,and if we are in airconditions we don't even then.
How do you cope during the first few days?
We cope alright,because its not something hard on us really,all Muslims would be waiting for Ramazan to begin,so it's not hard .
What is it like when you begin to eat during the day again?
When eating again,Doctors said we should start by having something warm,like soup or something,then we mustn't over do it,and eat much at one time,you can eat whatever you want bit by bit till the dawn time
Do you lose weight?
Not everyone,most of people gain weight,because they eat much in Ramazan more than they normaly do,and eat lots of sweets too.

Another thing that I would like to know about: The fast food (kebabs and peanut/chestnut sellers etc) do they carry on with their business during fasting period?
Yes,they do,because people go have İftar there,and sometimes have Sahur too'the food that we eat before starting to fast'

Not hard really not to drink and eat when you are doing this for good reasons.
İf it was hard,you wouldn't see all Muslims celebrating Ramazan all over the world,and wait for it to come every year.

And yes,as MrX said,you find peace in your soul and body too,
You would understand it better when you do it,not easy to explain !

But i hope that would help you to understand

I think less peopel fast in istanbul than in the samller cities and villages. I would say well less than 50% of the peopel in istanbul fast. This isnt a criticism, just my opinion.

Ohh,i understand now.

You know something MrX,
İ have a relative who live in a western country,the building they live in almost all of it contain a Turkish neighbors
And they are so keen to fast Ramazan more than anything,even society don't force them by traditions,or customs,its not a Muslim country there.

And they are keeping their traditions too,my relatives told me you just love to deal with those people,and respect them so much.

So i think its something in the heart really,no matter where you are.