Turkey |
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To all TC members \"Hayırlı Ramazanlar\"
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| 1. |
31 Jul 2011 Sun 11:37 am |
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Ramazan ayi oyle bir aydir ki;
Basi Rahmet, Ortasi Magfiret,
Sonu Cehannem’den Azaddir.
Oruc; Sadece ac kalmak degil,
Allah’in; Rahmet,Bereket,
Magfiretine Kavusmaktir.
Oruc; Mu’minin nuru,
Allah’a yaklasmanin anahtaridir.
Yuce Allah Tum Ummed-I Muhammed’e
Ramazan ayi’nin butun faziletlerinden
Faydalanmayi,
Gunahlarimizin affedildigi bir ay olmasini
Nasip etsin
RAMAZAN AYINI MUBAREK OLSUN
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| 2. |
31 Jul 2011 Sun 12:37 pm |
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Hayırlı Ramazanlar Herkese !
I wish everyone have a nice Ramadan !
Edited (7/31/2011) by tunci
Edited (7/31/2011) by tunci
Edited (7/31/2011) by tunci
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| 3. |
01 Aug 2011 Mon 12:23 am |
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and you too, and everyone who celebrates Ramadan....
Ramazan ayi oyle bir aydir ki;
Basi Rahmet, Ortasi Magfiret,
Sonu Cehannem’den Azaddir.
Oruc; Sadece ac kalmak degil,
Allah’in; Rahmet,Bereket,
Magfiretine Kavusmaktir.
Oruc; Mu’minin nuru,
Allah’a yaklasmanin anahtaridir.
Yuce Allah Tum Ummed-I Muhammed’e
Ramazan ayi’nin butun faziletlerinden
Faydalanmayi,
Gunahlarimizin affedildigi bir ay olmasini
Nasip etsin
RAMAZAN AYINI MUBAREK OLSUN
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| 4. |
01 Aug 2011 Mon 12:24 am |
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& you too Tunci
Hayırlı Ramazanlar Herkese !
I wish everyone have a nice Ramadan !
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| 5. |
01 Aug 2011 Mon 11:17 am |
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Ramadan starts as fewer tents await their visitors
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL
Long a fixture of public squares throughout Istanbul during Ramadan, large municipal-run tents providing a fast-breaking meal and other cultural activities are giving way to “meals-on-wheels” projects to poorer families and more localized street dinners.
“People meeting each other on the streets, mingling with their neighbors, everybody bringing their tables to the front of their houses – that could work out well,” Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbaş recently said in reference to plans to localize Ramadan festivities instead of organizing them in a more central location.
Monday marks the beginning of the holy month, during which observant Muslims fast between dawn and sunset for 30 days, rising each day before dawn to eat the suhoor, or morning meal, continuing their fast until they take the fast-breaking iftar after the evening prayer.
Topbaş said people could socialize in outdoor fast-breaking dinners on the city’s streets.
Beykoz Municipality, on Istanbul’s Asian side, was one of the pioneers in the Ramadan tent tradition, but it has announced plans this year to provide aid checks to 8,000 families. Beyoğlu Municipality also used to set up tents in central areas like Beykoz, but it also plans to organize smaller street dinners in local neighborhoods.
Drummers allowed but not for suhoor
Üsküdar Municipality, meanwhile, will not break the tradition this year and will distribute food in nine different locations, an official from the municipality recently told the Hürriyet Daily News.
Ramadan drummers in the district will be allowed to beat their drums to prepare people for the fast-breaking meal but will not be allowed to wake up people for the suhoor, the official said.
In the days before alarm clocks, drummers would traditionally go street to street, beating on their instruments to rouse people for the suhoor. Many municipalities, however, have banned the practice due to early-morning noise complaints.
“People can also break their fasts at dinners set up in 33 neighborhoods of Üsküdar Municipality accompanied by traditional Turkish music,” the official said.
Unlike others, Fatih and Bakırköy municipalities will set up tents in central areas, aiming to reach people in the traditional way. With a capacity of 5,000 people, Fatih will set up a tent in the Eminönü area. Municipal authorities there also plan to distribute 2,500 meals to families.
Meanwhile, a tent set up in Bakırköy’s Kartaltepe Hürriyet neighborhood will provide meals for 1,500 people while another 10,000 meals will be distributed, Hacı Kuru, the municipality’s environmental protection and control manager, told the Daily News.
Istanbul will host many activities such as concerts, theater play and reading fairs in cultural centers around the city during Ramadan.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will organize traditional Ramadan activities in many areas, such as Sultanahmet, Feshane and Beyazıt.
During the holy month, new generations will have the opportunity to see traditional Turkish theatrical arts, such as “Karagöz,” “ortaoyunu” and “meddah.”
Municipalities have also organized wizard shows, puppet shows, pantomimes, Turkish classical music concerts and Sufi music concerts as part of Ramadan activities.
This year’s Ramadan fast will continue until Tuesday, Aug. 30, the beginning of the Şeker Bayram holiday. This year, the holiday will last for three days
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| 6. |
01 Aug 2011 Mon 01:27 pm |
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Ramazan ayini mubarek olsun!
May allah shower his blessings, bereket & rahmet upon you and your families all year long!
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| 7. |
02 Aug 2011 Tue 01:05 pm |
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Iftar in Sultan Ahmed mosque/ Istanbul...
It´s a very good thing to share Iftar with poor people, isn´t it ?
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| 8. |
04 Aug 2011 Thu 12:17 am |
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Beyoğlu municipality’s iftar unites clergy of all religions
ISTANBUL – Anatolia News Agency
While The Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum waits for the opening to the public,it hosted Beyoğlu Municipality’s traditional fast-breaking dinner. Herve Magro, French consul to Istanbul, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos were among its guests
Galata Mevlevihanesi hosted Beyoğlu Municipality’s traditional fast-breaking dinner, or iftar. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL
Galata Mevlevihanesi hosted Beyoğlu Municipality’s traditional fast-breaking dinner, or iftar, Tuesday, with participation of top clergy of three celestial regions. The iftar started with a whirling dervish show.
Speaking to the members of the press, Istanbul mufti Mustafa Çağrıcı said that Ramadan always had a claim to become a shared value among all believers.
Also attending the dinner, Herve Magro, French consul-general to Istanbul, said that everyone must give ear to the message the Holy Ramadan conveys. “Whichever religion we believe, it is all of our’s duty to make the world a better, more peaceful place.”, he said.
Peace message from the clerics
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos said that fasting fulfills its true meaning when supported with other virtues such as following a decent path, being fair and just, avoiding from misconduct and envy, helping the needy, protecting the weak, and sharing happiness and love.
Turkey Jews’ Chief Rabbi İsak Haleva said that all the celestial religions conveyed the same message which was “we all were brought to this worl by the same parents.” He also said that Ramadan was the month of mercy, during which we were supposed to treat eachother more mercuifully, otherwise we would not have the right to ask for God’s mercy.
“This is the most important message this month gives to us. A great majority of the global economy is spent on armament. Is it God’s wish that brother kills brother? Enough is enough; we must stop fighting now and start loving and caring for each other. Turkey could shine a light on the world by succeeding in this”, he said.
The Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum will be open to the public after its opening ceremony, anticipated to be scheduled around late July to early autumn. The museum has gone through intense restoration work for the past year. The Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum is on Galipdede Cad No. 15 Tünel in Beyoðlu neighhborhood.
First and the oldest ´tekke´
The Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum is at the site of the original Galata dervish lodge, or “tekke.” Built in 1491 during the reign of Sultan Beyazıt II, Galata Mevlevihanesi was the first and oldest tekke in Istanbul, other former lodges being Kasımpaşa Mevlevihanesi, Yenikapı Mevlevihanesi and Uskudar Mevlevihanesi. The dervish lodge has been rebuilt and repaired several times over the centuries, with a modern museum building now standing on the original tekke grounds. It first burned down and was rebuilt in 1766 by Sultan Mustafa III, and later underwent repairs during the reigns of Sultans Selim III, Mahmud II and Abdülmecid
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| 9. |
04 Aug 2011 Thu 04:55 am |
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Hayırlı Ramazanlar Herkese !
I wish everyone have a nice Ramadan !
I had the question of what I would say to my friends to wish them well during Ramazan. Thank you for the answer, and I wish everyone well during this time. teşekkurlar tunci.
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| 10. |
10 Aug 2011 Wed 06:05 pm |
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Common misconceptions about fasting
ORUÇ HAKKINDA YANLIŞ BİLİNENLER
Leading scholars of Islam say the following acts are permissible for those fasting and do not nullify one’s fast
pouring water over the body and submerging the body in water; applying eye drops or anything else to the eyes; rinsing, gargling or applying topical treatment to the mouth (as long as one avoids swallowing any material that may reach the throat); injections, whether subcutaneous, intra-muscular or intravenous (with the exception of those used for the purpose of nutrition); anesthetics, so long as they do not supply nutrition to the patient; the drilling of teeth (prior to a filling); the extraction or polishing of teeth; and using a miswak (a tooth-cleaning twig) or a toothbrush, so long as one does not swallow any material that reaches the throat.
Edited (8/10/2011) by tunci
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| 11. |
10 Aug 2011 Wed 06:12 pm |
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1.5-kilometer iftar table hosts 100,000 in Ümraniye
08 August 2011, Monday / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
(Photo: AA)
| İstanbul’s Ümraniye Municipality hosted 100,000 guests at a dinner table stretching over one-and-a-half kilometers for iftar (fast-breaking dinner) on Sunday night. |
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About 10,000 tables were arranged next to each other for the giant dinner on Alemdağ Street. The line of tables also extended into several side streets. A total of 1,500 people, including waiters and police officers, served at the event. Eight giant screens were installed to display images over the giant dining table.
The menu for the night was rice, roasted meat, tulumba dessert, fruit juice, bread, water and an iftar plate that included dates and olives. One bottle of water and one carton of fruit juice were put on the table for each person. A total of 15 tons of rice and 20 tons of meat were used to make the meal. The food was brought to the venue with a catering company’s trucks and distributed one hour before iftar. The catering company also kept sandwiches ready in case the food was insufficient for the large crowd.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Ümraniye Mayor Hasan Can said his municipality worked for two months to put on last year’s iftar and learned much from the experience. “Last year’s preparations were taken into account, so this year’s preparations were more practical,” he said.
Stating that Alemdağ Street is the busiest in Ümraniye, Can said they took the necessary security measures for the event and noted that the guests were happy about the giant iftar program. “We had been working for days. Our guests came not only to eat but also to experience this atmosphere together,” he added.
The guests said they were happy to share the special night with thousands. Recalling the famine that hit Somalia, the participants said they must thank God for having food to eat.
So many people attended the event that some could not find a place to sit and had to eat their meals on foot. The night was not completely uneventful, either, as guests and officials argued due to the rush in distributing the food
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| 12. |
10 Aug 2011 Wed 06:16 pm |
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Possessions are purified by paying zakah to the needy
| Zakah[Zekat], or almsgiving, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims who have accumulated wealth must pay at least 2.5 percent of it to those in need each year. |
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While zakah can be paid anytime during the year, many people prefer to pay it during the month of Ramadan. The word zakah means both “purification” and “growth.” Muslims believe their possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and that like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth. God revealed the beneficiaries of zakah in the Quran: “Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and the officials [appointed] over them, and those whose hearts are made to incline [to truth] and the [ransoming of] captives and those in debt and in the way of God and the wayfarer: an ordinance from God; and God is knowing, wise.” [9:60]
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Edited (8/10/2011) by tunci
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| 13. |
10 Aug 2011 Wed 06:20 pm |
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Family in Islam and visiting in Ramadan
| “And serve God. Ascribe no thing as partner unto Him. [Show] kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto the neighbor who is of kin [unto you] and the neighbor who is not of kin and the fellow traveler and the wayfarer and [the slaves] whom your right hands possess. Lo! God loveth not such as are proud and boastful.” |
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(Quran 4:36) The family unit is an important component of Islam, and all elements of a family are given due significance -- from parents to children, from spouses to kith and kin. In Islam, there are three factors that keep the family together: kinship or blood ties, marital commitments and faith. The Muslim family consists not just of spouses and children, but extends to include other relatives and, importantly, neighbors. One is required to visit relatives, inquire about their circumstances, spend with them and give them sadaqah (charity) if they need it. As for neighbors, the Prophet Muhammad said, “...the best of neighbors to God is the one who is the best of them to his neighbor.” (Recorded by At-Tirmidhi).
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| 14. |
10 Aug 2011 Wed 11:12 pm |
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Herkese hayırlı bir Ramazan ayı dilerim.
I wish everyone has a good month of Ramadan.
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| 15. |
12 Aug 2011 Fri 11:54 am |
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Oruç Tutmayan Kadına Yapılan Saldırının İzlerini Silmek İsteyen Erzurum Belediyesi, Oruç Tutmayan Bir Erkek Döverek İmajını Düzeltecek
Artık gelenekselleşen “Ramazan’da Oruç Tutmayan Vatandaşa Dayak Atma” haberlerine, bu sene sokakta sigara içen bir kadının dövülmesiyle adını yazdıran Erzurum´da moraller bozuk. Çevre illerde, Erzurumlular´ın güçlerinin bir kadına yettiği yönünde yapılan yorumlar yöre halkında huzursuzluk yaratırken, ilin zarar gören imajını düzeltmek isteyen Erzurum Belediyesi, en kısa zamanda oruç tutmayan yetişkin bir erkeğin dövülmesi için kolları sıvadı.
Translation:
Our traditional habit of beating those who don´t fast has been witnessed in Erzurum this year in that a woman smoking in the street was beaten badly. But Erzurum people got depressed about the news (or rumours) circulating neigbouring provinces. The news is that they say they can only beat women in Erzurum. To remove this negative image now Erzurum municipality is planning to beat a man instead.
Source: here
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| 16. |
12 Aug 2011 Fri 01:36 pm |
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Ramazan ayiniz hayirli ve nurlu olsun
I wish everybody a peaceful and safe ramazan.
Let us not forget Zakat (Alms Giving).. and I urge all my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to not wait until Eid to pay Zakat as
1: People in places such as Somalia, Iraq etc are in dire need of your help NOW!
and
2: You get more sawab (good points from Allah (swt) if you pay up during ramazan 
Nurcan 
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| 17. |
13 Aug 2011 Sat 12:52 pm |
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Connecting minarets, Ottoman style
Niki Gamm
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Ramadan presents the opportunity to view the ‘mahya,’ a string of
lights set up between two minarets often featuring moral or religious
themes. Largely unique to Turkey the mahya has its origins in Ottoman
Mahya between tha two minarets of a mosque. It spells out a religiously themed message.
The streets of Turkish cities change after sundown during Ramadan, with families and friends congregating to break the fast out of doors, particularly in summer. The coming darkness also presents the opportunity to behold one of the uniquely Turkish contributions to Islamic culture – the “mahya,” a string of lights set between two minarets that usually spell out a religiously themed message.
No one seems to know where the Turkish word mahya comes from, but everybody agrees that stringing lights between minarets is an Ottoman custom. There are several stories concerning the beginning of the practice; one story concerns calligrapher Hafız Ahmed Kefevi, who was one of the muezzins at Fatih Mosque in 1614. He was so pleased with a handkerchief that he had embroidered that he took it to Sultan Ahmed I, who liked it so much that he ordered it to be publicly displayed by hanging it with ropes strung between two of the minarets of his mosque.
Another story sets the first occasion for the mahya to be strung up during the reign of Sultan Ahmed III at the suggestion of his grand vizier and imperial son-in-law, Nevşehirli Ibrahim Paşa, in 1721. Given the wide discrepancy in dates, it is no surprise that people are confused as to the practice’s origin.
Whatever gave rise to the use of mahya, it has continued over the centuries. It may have and probably did start out as a series of lanterns hanging down off the muezzin’s balcony. This hardly allowed for the creation of words or pictures since the strings of lanterns were vertical. The practice was referred to as “putting a caftan” on a minaret.
The practice was confined to mosques with two minarets which had to meet the requirement of having at least two balconies for muezzins so that they would be tall enough to accommodate the writing meant to be seen at a distance. That basically ruled out all mosques with the exception of the big mosques of Istanbul, although the late Professor Süheyl Ünver writes of seeing mahya inside small mosques when he was a boy. One surviving story explains that the people of Üsküdar were envious of the mosques on the historic peninsula and wanted their own. So they petitioned the sultan, which resulted in his ordering a second minaret to be built on the Mihrimah Mosque in Üsküdar’s central square.
Construction of mahyas
The construction of the mahya was carried out by experienced teams. Ropes, pulleys, hooks, lanterns, oil for lighting the lanterns and gloves to protect the hands were required to erect the signs. Ropes were easy to come by given Istanbul’s maritime connections, while people who constructed minarets would have been able to carry the equipment up the staircases inside the minarets; the difficult step, however, was putting the oil in iron boxes, attaching them to the ropes, lighting the oil and then stringing them out between the minarets. It is easy to appreciate the work given the constant presence of wind in Istanbul.
Expert “mahyacıs” (mahya makers) would have calculated how many ropes were needed and how they must strung to show off the creation. Today’s mahyas are simple compared to methods used in the Ottoman period. For instance, in imperial times, any writing would have been done in the Arabic script, which could be manipulated into artistic creations.
It is also known that pictures were very popular and were sometimes animated. One particular mahya, for instance, showed a boat with fish swimming below it. Teams of mahyacıs would compete with each other every year, offering their designs to the sultan. He would then choose the ones he wanted to see. Written slogans included ones wishing long life to the sultan or comments on the sacredness of the month of Ramadan.
Mahyas were customarily only strung during the month of Ramadan in the Ottoman period, but today the electric lights that replace the lanterns are lit on national days and other religious days. The change occurred in the 19th century when mahya lanterns were strung up on the hill in Emirgan to welcome the khedive (governor) of Egypt and in Beşiktaş to welcome Sultan Abdülaziz when he returned from Europe.
Today the mahya compete with billboards and electric lights and have lost much of the magic they possessed when the city’s people used to make their way through the streets only by lantern light. The Foundations Directorate, however, is fighting to keep the tradition alive. k HDN
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| 18. |
13 Aug 2011 Sat 12:59 pm |
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Do not use yoga for an easier fast, cleric says
ANKARA - Radikal
The intention of trying to prevent hunger and thirst is against the Islamic spirit, according to Religious Affairs Directorate Supreme Board member Altuntaş
The Religious Affairs Directorate has severely criticized people who have resorted to yoga to lessen the intense feeling of hunger and thirst while fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
The intention of trying to prevent hunger and thirst is against the Islamic spirit, Religious Affairs Directorate Supreme Board member and associate professor Dr. Halil Altuntaş said.
According to some experts, yoga can be used to increase body resistance against hunger and thirst through pranayama (respiration) and pratyahara (sense control), as well as prevent tension caused by fasting. Altuntaş also noted the “different religious beliefs” behind yoga’s philosophy, Radikal reported while emphasizing that hunger and thirst were among the main reasons and aims of fasting. “In this way, humans think of Allah, who provides food, and empathize with those who can not find it as easily. What is the point of not eating or drinking without feeling all of this?” he asked.
Stating that fasting without going through any difficulty was against Islam, Altuntaş said: “Foreign trends seeking acceptance from Muslims are trying to [penetrate into society] using Islam. Do not give credit to it.”
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| 19. |
13 Aug 2011 Sat 03:44 pm |
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I wish tax payers money would be used for some scientific research instead of this public show.
1.5-kilometer iftar table hosts 100,000 in Ümraniye
08 August 2011, Monday / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
(Photo: AA)
| İstanbul’s Ümraniye Municipality hosted 100,000 guests at a dinner table stretching over one-and-a-half kilometers for iftar (fast-breaking dinner) on Sunday night. |
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About 10,000 tables were arranged next to each other for the giant dinner on Alemdağ Street. The line of tables also extended into several side streets. A total of 1,500 people, including waiters and police officers, served at the event. Eight giant screens were installed to display images over the giant dining table.
The menu for the night was rice, roasted meat, tulumba dessert, fruit juice, bread, water and an iftar plate that included dates and olives. One bottle of water and one carton of fruit juice were put on the table for each person. A total of 15 tons of rice and 20 tons of meat were used to make the meal. The food was brought to the venue with a catering company’s trucks and distributed one hour before iftar. The catering company also kept sandwiches ready in case the food was insufficient for the large crowd.
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Ümraniye Mayor Hasan Can said his municipality worked for two months to put on last year’s iftar and learned much from the experience. “Last year’s preparations were taken into account, so this year’s preparations were more practical,” he said.
Stating that Alemdağ Street is the busiest in Ümraniye, Can said they took the necessary security measures for the event and noted that the guests were happy about the giant iftar program. “We had been working for days. Our guests came not only to eat but also to experience this atmosphere together,” he added.
The guests said they were happy to share the special night with thousands. Recalling the famine that hit Somalia, the participants said they must thank God for having food to eat.
So many people attended the event that some could not find a place to sit and had to eat their meals on foot. The night was not completely uneventful, either, as guests and officials argued due to the rush in distributing the food
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| 20. |
13 Aug 2011 Sat 03:48 pm |
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My mother who needs to take blood pressure control pills fasts at the age of 71. There are millions like her out there. Based on the number of fasters, we must have long become a nation of angels. We sacrifice poor animals in the streets to pay for our sins too. Are we even one percent better than the Dutch or the Brits?
Do not use yoga for an easier fast, cleric says
ANKARA - Radikal
The intention of trying to prevent hunger and thirst is against the Islamic spirit, according to Religious Affairs Directorate Supreme Board member Altuntaş
The Religious Affairs Directorate has severely criticized people who have resorted to yoga to lessen the intense feeling of hunger and thirst while fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
The intention of trying to prevent hunger and thirst is against the Islamic spirit, Religious Affairs Directorate Supreme Board member and associate professor Dr. Halil Altuntaş said.
According to some experts, yoga can be used to increase body resistance against hunger and thirst through pranayama (respiration) and pratyahara (sense control), as well as prevent tension caused by fasting. Altuntaş also noted the “different religious beliefs” behind yoga’s philosophy, Radikal reported while emphasizing that hunger and thirst were among the main reasons and aims of fasting. “In this way, humans think of Allah, who provides food, and empathize with those who can not find it as easily. What is the point of not eating or drinking without feeling all of this?” he asked.
Stating that fasting without going through any difficulty was against Islam, Altuntaş said: “Foreign trends seeking acceptance from Muslims are trying to [penetrate into society] using Islam. Do not give credit to it.”
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| 21. |
13 Aug 2011 Sat 04:27 pm |
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You missed the point, vineyards. In islamic ethics people are not divided into good and bad but those who regret their sins and those who don´t.
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| 22. |
14 Aug 2011 Sun 11:02 am |
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Let´s be perpetually penitent then...
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| 23. |
15 Aug 2011 Mon 02:44 am |
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Happy fasting to everyone, hayirli Ramazanlar!!
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| 24. |
15 Aug 2011 Mon 02:17 pm |
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Luxurious iftars spark Ramadan inequality row
Işıl Eğrikavuk
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Two recent iftar protests organized by a pro-Islamic group, the Labor and Justice Platform, open a debate on how much attention is paid to social injustice within Islamic discourse. While the protesters criticize Islam’s drawing closer to capitalism in Turkey in recent years, some say Islam is already just in itself
group of protestors gathered in front of Istanbul Conrad Hotel last Monday, bringing food and breaking their fasts on the street. AA photo
If only one picture were used to depict the month of Ramadan, that image would likely be of an iftar, the traditional fast-breaking dinner, a ceremonial activity featuring a variety of dishes.
This picture is, however, now being challenged by one Islamic group and its supporters, who recently protested the glamorous and expensive iftars held in luxury hotels.
After breaking their fast on the street in front of Istanbul’s Conrad Hotel last week, members of the Labor and Justice Platform organized another protest dinner Saturday in the city’s well-known Taksim Square, which is bordered by three five-star hotels.
“We are against the waste of money during these dinners. Instead of spending that money on the [iftar] tables, patrons should give it away to their workers,” the group said in a statement. Members held up posters bearing messages such as “Fasting breaks capitalism and capitalism breaks fasting” and “Iftar menu: 318 Turkish Liras; Minimum wage: 658 liras.” “This is not just a protest against the iftars during Ramadan, but we did [the protests during this time] because these luxurious feasts have become symbols of a capitalist understanding that has grown in the last 15 years,” one of the participants, theologian and writer İhsan Eliaçık, told the Hürriyet Daily News.
“While the poor people gather in tents to receive a free meal from municipalities, the rich gather in these hotels. Unfortunately the conservative mentality in Turkey has produced this [wealth] gap and this situation has been normalized,” Eliaçık said. Columnist Hidayet Şefkatli Tuksal, who was also among the protesters, said issues regarding social injustice are not discussed enough among Islamic groups.
“There is a growing capitalism in Turkey yet its consequences are not discussed at all. Conservative groups, which are becoming richer and richer, do not really own these issues; if they do they are accused of being leftists,” Tuksal told the Daily News. Others disagree with the protesters, saying that Islam’s tenets includes justice, giving as proof the practices such as “zakat,” the compulsory giving of a set percentage of one’s wealth to charity.
“Muslim people all around the world follow this practice, and this shows Islam’s treatment of injustice. This is already a practice, and if there were more Muslim people in the world, there would be less inequality,” said Erol Yarar, a former executive of the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association, or MÜSİAD, a conservative group.
Theologian Eliaçık disagrees. “The giving away of one’s wealth doesn’t help avoid inequality. There is a huge abyss between the rich and the poor in this country. The rich relax their conscience by giving away a bit of money but continue their consumption and [continue] charging high interest [rates],” he said.
According to Eliaçık, anti-communist propaganda in the 1960s and 1970s has kept Islamic and leftist groups apart in Turkey.
“Now we do have leftist members in our group; they respect our opinions and we respect theirs. But we need to make our voice more visible in the media,” he added.
Warnings
While the recent iftar have protests started a debate among conservative figures in the media, politicians also seem to have been influenced by the discourse. During an iftar hosted by MÜSİAD, Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek criticized the luxurious tables. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also called for the cancellation of glittering iftar dinners.
Currently, an iftar at the five-star Çırağan Kempinski hotel costs 185 liras while iftar at the Four Seasons hotel costs 110 liras. Other prices also range between 65- 200 liras.
Members of the Labor and Justice Platform said they would continue with their protests. “We will continue our protests during Ramadan,” group member Özgür Kaya said. “We will do it until we break down the walls between the classes.”
Note : The aim of performing " fasting" is to cleanse the inner soul and emphaty for those who are poor and sharing. It is not the time to fill the bellies with luxuries food and wasting huge amount of food. I dont think God is pleased with those sort of activities..
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| 25. |
15 Aug 2011 Mon 11:59 pm |
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Note : The aim of performing " fasting" is to cleanse the inner soul and emphaty for those who are poor and sharing. It is not the time to fill the bellies with luxuries food and wasting huge amount of food. I dont think God is pleased with those sort of activities..
Sayyidina Miqdam ibn Ma’dikarib (R.A) reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger say, “A man does not fill a vessel worse than his belly. Enough for the son of Adam are a few morsels to keep his back straight. But, if it is unavoidable then let him apportion one-third for his food, one-third for his drink and one-third for his breath.”
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ الْحِمْصِيُّ وَحَبِيبُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ جَابِرٍ - ص 510 - الطَّائِيِّ عَنْ مِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ مَا مَلَأَ آدَمِيٌّ وِعَاءً شَرًّا مِنْ بَطْنٍ بِحَسْبِ ابْنِ آدَمَ أُكُلَاتٌ يُقِمْنَ صُلْبَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَا مَحَالَةَ فَثُلُثٌ لِطَعَامِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِشَرَابِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِنَفَسِهِ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَرَفَةَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ نَحْوَهُ وَقَالَ الْمِقْدَامُ بْنُ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
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| 26. |
16 Aug 2011 Tue 04:19 pm |
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Tasawwuf concert at Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque enchants audience
15 August 2011, Monday / TODAY’S ZAMAN, ANKARA
Thousands of people enjoyed a tasawwuf music concert performed by renowned Turkish singer Ahmet Özhan in the courtyard of Ankara’s Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque and its surroundings on Sunday night
| A tasawwuf (Sufi) music concert by Turkish singer Ahmet Özhan mesmerized thousands of people in the courtyard of Ankara’s Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque and its surroundings on Sunday night. |
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Özhan took Ankara residents on a spiritual journey with religious hymns. The renowned singer took to the stage following performances by Burcu Karadağ, Göksel Baktagir, Orhan Çakmak, Fatih Koca and Sami Savni Özer. He received a standing ovation from thousands of Ankarites. The Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque and its surroundings are the venue of Ramadan treats presented by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality during the holy month. The Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque is a focal point for those who want to pray and share the joy of Ramadan with others. The mosque was recently renovated in accordance with its original design.
It is receiving more and more attention as Ramadan progresses. Many visit the site to listen to religious discussions and later join the terawih, a voluntary night prayer specific to Ramadan. The sound of Sufi music echoes in the courtyard of the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque every night.
Municipality-sponsored Ramadan events, including concerts, literary and religious discussions and exhibitions of handicrafts, will run through Aug. 25 during Ramadan. Ramadan activities in Altınpark, which appeal to children, will continue through Sept. 1. Altınpark hosts entertainment shows presented by a Kenyan acrobatics group and a Mongolian circus group, theater plays, competitions for children and an amusement park.
Çilehane to be opened
The çilehane, a “room of suffering” where dervishes spend a certain period of time worshiping God, of Hacı Bayram-ı Veli, a renowned poet, ascetic and the founder of the Bayrami order of dervishes, and his students will be open to visitors during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
Guests will have the opportunity to practice i’tikaf (self isolation). The imam of the mosque, Ahmet Karalı, told the Anatolia news agency that the philosophy behind i’tikaf is based on “eating, drinking, resting and sleeping only as much as necessary while remaining away from worldly affairs.”
The çilehane has four rooms, each one square meter in size and outfitted with a place for ablutions. Karalı says the çilehane will be open to women visitors between midday and mid-afternoon and to men between mid-afternoon and the evening.
Three people were selected by the Altındağ Müfti’s Office, responsible for the mosque, to perform i’tikaf here this Ramadan. The three will begin their i’tikaf on the 21st day of Ramadan through to the morning of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the month of fasting.
Meanwhile, the mosque applies positive discrimination for women during Ramadan as women pray terawih in the entire inner section of the mosque. Men perform their terawih prayer in the mosque’s yard.
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| 27. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 01:04 pm |
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I think starving yourself for religious beliefs is stupid and bears no value. God watches your heart not your mouth, stomach and hands. I think it is highly unhealthy not to eat during the day and eat during the night. You make all-knowing and almighty God stupid by putting Him in the frames of religion and making Him believe that your intentions are pure while He knows everything about you before you were born and before your parents were born. God is sovereign and is beyond all human thinking and perception. I dont think starving pleases Him.
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| 28. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 02:12 pm |
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You are using strong language, lemon. Whatever our beliefs are, I think every person should remind himself a hundred times a day he might just be wrong and all the other people who, from his point of view, seem to act strangely might be right. This is the basis of mutual respect and a homework for all of us.
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| 29. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 03:19 pm |
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You are using strong language, lemon. Whatever our beliefs are, I think every person should remind himself a hundred times a day he might just be wrong and all the other people who, from his point of view, seem to act strangely might be right. This is the basis of mutual respect and a homework for all of us.
Abla,
I might be wrong (in many things I speak and do). However, this doesnt or shouldnt limit my right to express what I think. If I dont express no one will know what I think and not many will have a chance to correct me. We are given brains, tongues and fingures to express ourselves (the features that distinguish us from other creatures) to communicate.
Respect must be gained I believe.
to be contiuned...
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| 30. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 04:13 pm |
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I think starving yourself for religious beliefs is stupid and bears no value. God watches your heart not your mouth, stomach and hands. I think it is highly unhealthy not to eat during the day and eat during the night. You make all-knowing and almighty God stupid by putting Him in the frames of religion and making Him believe that your intentions are pure while He knows everything about you before you were born and before your parents were born. God is sovereign and is beyond all human thinking and perception. I dont think starving pleases Him.
In my opinion you are wrong Lemon. Its not that simple as you think. Its not all about starving yourself.
During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person´s body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one´s self on the worship of God
- 1.Through fasting, a Muslim experiences hunger and thirst, and sympathizes with those in the world who have little to eat every day.
- 2.Through increased devotion, Muslims feel closer to their Creator, and recognize that everything we have in this life is a blessing from Him.
- 3.Through increased charity, Muslims develop feelings of generosity and good-will toward others. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said, "A man´s wealth is never diminished by charity."
- 3.Through self-control, a Muslim practices good manners, good speech, and good habits.
- Through changing routines, Muslims have a chance to establish more healthy lifestyle habits -- particularly with regards to diet and smoking.
- 4.Through family and community gatherings, Muslims strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, in their own communities and throughout the world.
5.Ramadan is a very special time for Muslims, but the feelings and lessons we experience should stay with us throughout the year. In the Qur´an, Muslims are commanded to fast so that they may "learn self-restraint" (Qur´an 2:183). This restraint and devotion is especially felt during Ramadan, but we all must strive to make the feelings and attitudes stay with us during our "normal" lives. That is the true goal and test of Ramadan.
Last Note , Lemon, none of us is perfect,I am not perfect. I had so many sins and still are. God is perfect. So we should try our best to be a good believer. Btw you are totally free to express your thoughts as long as we respect eachother´s thoughts.
Edited (8/17/2011) by tunci
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| 31. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 04:15 pm |
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Go ahead and express yourself, lemon. But I still think you used bad language. And I don´t think respect has to be gained.
The Bishop of Helsinki Irma Askola has been working on a dialogue between muslims and Christians. After visiting afternoon prayer in one of the local mosques she expressed her happiness and said she has a lot in common with people who believe holy exists. It´s not a self-evident truth for most people in today´s world. I am not a member of her chuch - we are not the same kind - but I can´t forget what she said.
I understand from your text that you are a believer. It shouldn´t be so difficult for you to understand people who think - just like you - that holy exists.
Edited (8/17/2011) by Abla
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| 32. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 04:55 pm |
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Every major religion practices some form of fasting. Whether people agree with it or not it is a fact of our human culture to try to become more perfect, more pure, more in touch with our various belief systems. This is the muslim expression of that need/drive. Billions of muslims have done it over a couple of millenia and still value its teachings (without dying or having any lasting health issues). There is something to be said for having restraint...even if it does not fit your definition of worship.
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| 33. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 06:34 pm |
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In my opinion you are wrong Lemon. Its not that simple as you think. Its not all about starving yourself.
During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person´s body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one´s self on the worship of God
- 1.Through fasting, a Muslim experiences hunger and thirst, and sympathizes with those in the world who have little to eat every day.
- 2.Through increased devotion, Muslims feel closer to their Creator, and recognize that everything we have in this life is a blessing from Him.
- 3.Through increased charity, Muslims develop feelings of generosity and good-will toward others. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said, "A man´s wealth is never diminished by charity."
- 3.Through self-control, a Muslim practices good manners, good speech, and good habits.
- Through changing routines, Muslims have a chance to establish more healthy lifestyle habits -- particularly with regards to diet and smoking.
- 4.Through family and community gatherings, Muslims strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, in their own communities and throughout the world.
5.Ramadan is a very special time for Muslims, but the feelings and lessons we experience should stay with us throughout the year. In the Qur´an, Muslims are commanded to fast so that they may "learn self-restraint" (Qur´an 2:183). This restraint and devotion is especially felt during Ramadan, but we all must strive to make the feelings and attitudes stay with us during our "normal" lives. That is the true goal and test of Ramadan.
Last Note , Lemon, none of us is perfect,I am not perfect. I had so many sins and still are. God is perfect. So we should try our best to be a good believer. Btw you are totally free to express your thoughts as long as we respect eachother´s thoughts.
Im thinking. And what I think is: so the rest 11 months you are allowed to sin? The rest 11 months your tongue, eyes and hands are ok to sin? A hypocrasy comes to my mind when I read such texts. You are cheating yourselves. You think you become a better person during ramadan? Who gives the guarantee? God? or your religion?
What you wrote is a pure philosophy made for men by men to satisfy the religious needs and make feel comfortable. When you stand before God on the other side what will you say to justify your sins? Imam Mehmet Ali said so? Then God will say? Who is he? Is he God? I gave you brains, I gave you eyes, I gave you ears. Couldnt you use them? Did you really look for Me? Did you really need Me? Or did you just shut down your brain and followed those who were just human beings like you?
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| 34. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 06:52 pm |
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Go ahead and express yourself, lemon. But I still think you used bad language. And I don´t think respect has to be gained.
The Bishop of Helsinki Irma Askola has been working on a dialogue between muslims and Christians. After visiting afternoon prayer in one of the local mosques she expressed her happiness and said she has a lot in common with people who believe holy exists. It´s not a self-evident truth for most people in today´s world. I am not a member of her chuch - we are not the same kind - but I can´t forget what she said.
I understand from your text that you are a believer. It shouldn´t be so difficult for you to understand people who think - just like you - that holy exists.
Dear Abla,
I think I use a sharp language (not bad). I am known on this website because of my style and straightforwardness. Sometimes I think I should learn to become a politician who knows how to speak and which words to use in order to please the public. Such person is called a diplomat in my culture.
Irma is a complete ignorant. She knows nothing of Bible which says that a woman has no right to become a bishop neither can teach. She and many others ignore the Word of God thus become false teachers. May God forgive her and let her see the true grace from God. I dont think she has really repented from sins and studied Bible with all her senses. All she does is a job, all she has a title, but no faith. Forgive me, no where in New Testament it says to go on dialogue or seek compromise. She is doing the will of men (thus you are impressed), not the will of God.
I am sorry, Abla, I have a different definition of a believer. I do not follow the religious leaders, I follow the Word of God which is Bible.
There are no righteous or holy. Only God is holy.
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| 35. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 07:05 pm |
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Every major religion practices some form of fasting. Whether people agree with it or not it is a fact of our human culture to try to become more perfect, more pure, more in touch with our various belief systems. This is the muslim expression of that need/drive. Billions of muslims have done it over a couple of millenia and still value its teachings (without dying or having any lasting health issues). There is something to be said for having restraint...even if it does not fit your definition of worship.
Oh, yes! Major religions, yes! So this is pracitsed by Catholics and Muslims (both the biggest religions). Catholicism and Islam are actually twin sisters.
You sure know that fasting in Catholicism is not supported by Bible.
Fasting is recognised as a specific and individual choice spending time on prayers to God (that is practiced any time, any day). Usually people fast for a day or a few eating absolutely nothing. It has nothing to do with cleansing your body or your mind or even detoxing yourself.
Just simple logic says and many dietologists will support what I say that starving during the day and eating before going to sleep is unhealthy. Your body needs energy during the wake hours not the rest hours.
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| 36. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 07:24 pm |
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Im thinking. And what I think is: so the rest 11 months you are allowed to sin? The rest 11 months your tongue, eyes and hands are ok to sin? A hypocrasy comes to my mind when I read such texts. You are cheating yourselves. You think you become a better person during ramadan? Who gives the guarantee? God? or your religion?
What you wrote is a pure philosophy made for men by men to satisfy the religious needs and make feel comfortable. When you stand before God on the other side what will you say to justify your sins? Imam Mehmet Ali said so? Then God will say? Who is he? Is he God? I gave you brains, I gave you eyes, I gave you ears. Couldnt you use them? Did you really look for Me? Did you really need Me? Or did you just shut down your brain and followed those who were just human beings like you?
Seems like your mind has a narrow look at things ,especially to Islamic Rituels. First you need take your horse glasses off [its a saying] and see the whole context ! . Yes God has given us brains to use . Therefore use your brain and read it carefully. Ramadan is re-focusing and special time that believers can train their tounge ,their mind, their body. Refreshing time for their soul..
Of course you are not allowed to sin the rest 11 months. You are not allowed to sin anytime. and if you had read the Quran you would see there is no room for Hypocricy.
When it comes to guarantee, No one has guarantee to go to heaven. Its between you and God. But you can become a better person by comitting your life to God.
I dont care "what Imam Ali says " . I care what QURAN says. But if " Imam Ali " speaks according to Quran then I would listen him too. We dont put our faith in Imam Ali, We put our faith in Allah c.c [God].
This is the phylosophy [as you put it] that we belive in. Whether you like it or not. Quran is not men made . It is Gods words and divine message for all humankind to lead them into the right path and make them to USE THEIR BRAINS.
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| 37. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 09:03 pm |
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People across Turkey view sakal-ı şerif in festive Ramadan mood
17 August 2011, Wednesday / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
Sakal-ı şerif
| During the festive holy month of Ramadan, the Directorate of Religious Affairs is exhibiting sakal-ı şerif (pieces of hair from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad, preserved as relics) in mosques in Kocaeli, Antakya and Gaziantep. |
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In Kocaeli’s İzmit district, the sakal-ı şerif went on display in the Orhan Mosque after terawih prayers on Sunday evening. Traditionally, the exhibition of the sacred relic opens every year on the night of Aug. 14 to 15, religious officials said. While viewing the relic, the congregation was very excited. A long line of people were eager for the chance to see it. Abdülkadir Keşvelioğlu, the local religious official (müfti) of the town, said the sakal-ı şerif will be exhibited in different mosques so that everyone -- men and women, young and old -- will have an opportunity to see it. He added that Turks have shown great respect for the Prophet through the centuries.
The same night, another sakal-ı şerif was displayed at the Ulu Mosque in the Dörtyol district of Antakya. On the first day of the exhibition, there was a great deal of public interest in viewing the sakal-ı şerif. The sakal-ı şerif will remain available for public viewing until the end of Ramadan.
In Antakya’s city center, a sakal-ı şerif was displayed at the end of an iftar dinner organized by Antakya Intercultural Dialogue Association and Antakya Municipality. Representatives of the three Abrahamic religions attended the dinner along with the people. The religious leaders shared messages of peace at the end of the dinner.
The Şehitkamil Municipality in Gaziantep also hosted an event to open the exhibition of a sakal-ı şerif, which was very well attended. The opening event was held in the garden of the Aktoprak Elementary School. People in attendance said they were grateful for the activity and thanked the officials who planned it. In Belgium, where there is a large Muslim and Turkish population, a sakal-ı şerif was displayed at the Yavuz Sultan Selim Mosque in La Louviere, a city in the Belgian province of Hainaut, on Aug. 14
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| 38. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 09:08 pm |
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Ramadan celebrated in US as enthusiastically as in Turkey
17 August 2011, Wednesday / TODAY’S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
| The Ulu Mosque in the city of Patterson, New Jersey, hosts 400 guests every night. Bilal Ankaya (pictured above), an imam of a mosque in the state of Washington, says Ramadan in a foreign place has its beauties. |
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| Many Turks live in cities in New Jersey where the holy month of Ramadan is celebrated as eagerly as in Turkey. Thousands of miles away from their native land, Turks share their food at the same iftar (fast-breaking dinner). |
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The Ulu Mosque in the city of Patterson hosts 400 guests and the Karaçay Türkleri Mosque hosts 150, while in the city of Clifton the Yeni Dünya Mosque has 150 visitors every night for iftar. Believers from other countries are welcome at these iftar tables, not just Turks.
The guests say these iftar events bond the Turks of the US and pave the way for the new generation in the community to learn about their native cultures. Cem Karadeniz, who moved to the US in 1989, told the Anatolia news agency they spend Ramadan with other Muslims and that these moments they spend together are precious. “It is very important for our families to come together and experience the atmosphere [of sharing]. We are away from Turkey, which we long for. That is the only thing missing. But I believe we have a good Ramadan here,” he said.
Born and raised in the US, Elif Kasaoğlu said she feels like she is in Turkey during Ramadan. Selman Minhaz, the child of a Turkish mother and a Pakistani father, shared the happiness of the crowd, saying they are like a big family.
Sixty-six-year-old Kezban Sözer, who can cook dinner for as many as 700 guests at the Ulu Mosque, is called “Kezban Ana” (Mother Kezban) by everybody in the mosque where she has cooked for the past 15 Ramadans. One of the participants, Engin Kocabaş, said iftars are better with a crowd. “That’s why we choose to come here. The atmosphere is no different than that in Turkey.”
Karaçay Türkleri Mosque Foundation head Kadir Taşkın said his foundation works to create the best Ramadan atmosphere so that Turks living in the city feel at home. “Rather than having food, we are happy to have the Turkish community together here,” he said.
Washington also celebrates Ramadan with enthusiasm. Bilal Ankaya is an imam of a mosque managed by the Virginia-based Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies (IITS). After studying at Selçuk University’s faculty of theology in Konya, Ankaya got his master’s degree at an American university. Residing in Washington for the past 13 years, Ankaya told the Aksiyon weekly that he used to have nobody to share iftar with when he first arrived in the US but is never alone at iftar now.
“Ramadan in a foreign place has its beauties. It is not the same thing to fast in a place where everybody fasts as in a place where nobody fasts. Deep inside you feel a bond with the Creator that is hard to describe.
The mosque where Ankaya serves as an imam is not like the glorious mosques of Turkey. It is a place to pray among the workplaces of the city of Fairfax in the Washington metropolitan area. “Yes, our mosque is small, but our hopes are big. With the opening of the mosque, Turks from Turkey and the Turkic republics started to bond quickly and warmly. We should mention other Muslims in this group, including Afghans, Pakistanis and Egyptians. For example, it is possible to see an African reciting azan (call to prayer) and an Indonesian distributing food,” he said.
Ankaya’s institute has three types of services: for Muslims in general, for Turks and for Americans. He said Americans do not have many trustworthy sources for exploring Islam and that the institution is there to provide the most rational and sensible information. “Although 9/11 seemed to increase Islamophobia, it also boosted interest in the religion,” he said.
While noting that people in the US are religious, Ankaya said IITS has developed relationships with locals and churches and that they meet on various occasions at IITS or in churches. He said every time he delivers a seminar in a church he is asked many questions. The imam said the questions are mostly about jihad and women’s rights in Islam. “I tell them jihad is about defense and that the real jihad takes place in one’s inner soul.”
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| 39. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:03 pm |
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Seems like your mind has a narrow look at things ,especially to Islamic Rituels. First you need take your horse glasses off [its a saying] and see the whole context ! . Yes God has given us brains to use . Therefore use your brain and read it carefully. Ramadan is re-focusing and special time that believers can train their tounge ,their mind, their body. Refreshing time for their soul..
Of course you are not allowed to sin the rest 11 months. You are not allowed to sin anytime. and if you had read the Quran you would see there is no room for Hypocricy.
When it comes to guarantee, No one has guarantee to go to heaven. Its between you and God. But you can become a better person by comitting your life to God.
I dont care "what Imam Ali says " . I care what QURAN says. But if " Imam Ali " speaks according to Quran then I would listen him too. We dont put our faith in Imam Ali, We put our faith in Allah c.c [God].
This is the phylosophy [as you put it] that we belive in. Whether you like it or not. Quran is not men made . It is Gods words and divine message for all humankind to lead them into the right path and make them to USE THEIR BRAINS.
I just ignore your personal insults. This a cheap way to approach the discussion.
You are so much wrong!!! Jesus Christ gives you a 100% guarantee of getting to Heaven. No one else does! No prophet and no angel!
So, you acknowledge that the Quran is a philosophy. Thanks.
Define me "divine message", please. Is it a peace of paper that is dropped from heaven?
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| 40. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:18 pm |
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I just ignore your personal insults. This a cheap way to approach the discussion.
Interesting point!
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| 41. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:34 pm |
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I just ignore your personal insults. This a cheap way to approach the discussion.
You are so much wrong!!! Jesus Christ gives you a 100% guarantee of getting to Heaven. No one else does! No prophet and no angel!
So, you acknowledge that the Quran is a philosophy. Thanks.
Define me "divine message", please. Is it a peace of paper that is dropped from heaven?
Personal insult ? is it me or you making personal insult ? Lets remember your previous comments ;
1.Irma is a complete ignorant
2. I think starving yourself for religious beliefs is stupid and bears no value
3. You are cheating yourselves
4. A hypocrasy comes to my mind
5. What you wrote is a pure philosophy made for men by men to
6. Or did you just shut down your brain and followed those who were just human beings like you?
So my friend , whose words are they above ? who is the one insulting ?
* you say "I am known on this website because of my style and straightforwardness."
I think it is not "straightforwardness " , it is more like " straightdisrespectfullness "
And finally I will give some verses from the bible which you claim you believe it. Just think about on those verses before judge other people.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing " 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
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| 42. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:44 pm |
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tunci, did you ever listen to the South African Ahmed Deedat´s lectures? He spent all his life in this kind of discussions with born-again Christians. I actually agree with lemon: the dialogue is useless.
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| 43. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:49 pm |
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tunci, did you ever listen to the South African Ahmed Deedat´s lectures? He spent all his life in this kind of discussions with born-again Christians. I actually agree with lemon: the dialogue is useless.
Abla, I didnt listen that person but I know what you mean. You are absolutelly right..
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| 44. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:49 pm |
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Personal insult ? is it me or you making personal insult ? Lets remember your previous comments ;
1.Irma is a complete ignorant
2. I think starving yourself for religious beliefs is stupid and bears no value
3. You are cheating yourselves
4. A hypocrasy comes to my mind
5. What you wrote is a pure philosophy made for men by men to
6. Or did you just shut down your brain and followed those who were just human beings like you?
So my friend , whose words are they above ? who is the one insulting ?
* you say "I am known on this website because of my style and straightforwardness."
I think it is not "straightforwardness " , it is more like " straightdisrespectfullness "
And finally I will give some verses from the bible which you claim you believe it. Just think about on those verses before judge other people.
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing " 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Where do I say Tunci is a narrowminded (in comparison to Tunci who stated so re: Lemon)? Where do you see a personal insult?
All you brought is something general I state in general about people. Where do you see a personal insult?
Tunci, you often quote Bible. Bible is full of Gods wisdom. It is my favorite book. Love is above anything. If I have faith and dont have love then my faith is worth nothing. You see everything is created through the love of God (not kinda love we express to each other). God says love your enemy. Amazing! Can you do that? If you cant then you are not able to enter Heaven.
However, I find no such wisdom in any other book. Unfortunately, Quran has nothing to say about love.
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| 45. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:50 pm |
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Interesting point!
And your point?
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| 46. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:51 pm |
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tunci, did you ever listen to the South African Ahmed Deedat´s lectures? He spent all his life in this kind of discussions with born-again Christians. I actually agree with lemon: the dialogue is useless.
Deedat died having no hope nor belief that he was saved. I feel pity for him. He was a great showman.
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| 47. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 10:55 pm |
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Where do I say Tunci is a narrowminded (in comparison to Tunci who stated so re: Lemon)? Where do you see a personal insult?
All you brought is something general I state in general about people. Where do you see a personal insult?
Tunci, you often quote Bible. Bible is full of Gods wisdom. It is my favorite book. Love is above anything. If I have faith and dont have love then my faith is worth nothing. You see everything is created through the love of God (not kinda love we express to each other). God says love your enemy. Amazing! Can you do that? If you cant then you are not able to enter Heaven.
However, I find no such wisdom in any other book. Unfortunately, Quran has nothing to say about love.
I wll ask you only one question .Lemon, did you ever Read the Quaran ? Btw I read the bible. Old and new testament.
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| 48. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 11:17 pm |
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I just ignore your personal insults. This a cheap way to approach the discussion.
I said this was a good point because you are the master of personal insults and I agree that it is a cheap way to approach a discussion. You don´t engage in a debate, you attack. Its fine if you don´t agree with people but do you have to be so MEAN???
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| 49. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 11:31 pm |
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I said this was a good point because you are the master of personal insults and I agree that it is a cheap way to approach a discussion. You don´t engage in a debate, you attack. Its fine if you don´t agree with people but do you have to be so MEAN???
I was so. I admit. However, I try to avoid PERSONAL attacks. Please try to give some credit to my personality. I attack your religion, Lisa, not you. So far, havent insulted you. But you have. I do engage in a debate. I bring in more reasoning to my way of perceiving than anyone else here. Who raise against me having no good argument but personal insults. Shame on you, Lisa that you jump on a wagon instead of saying anything contructive.
I am mean to false teachings and false religions.
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| 50. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 11:33 pm |
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I wll ask you only one question .Lemon, did you ever Read the Quaran ? Btw I read the bible. Old and new testament.
Tunci, you havent answered my questions.
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| 51. |
17 Aug 2011 Wed 11:43 pm |
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Tunci, you havent answered my questions.
1.Irma is a complete ignorant
2. I think starving yourself for religious beliefs is stupid and bears no value
3. You are cheating yourselves
4. A hypocrasy comes to my mind
5. What you wrote is a pure philosophy made for men by men to
6. Or did you just shut down your brain and followed those who were just human beings like you?
What about the first one ? You are calling " Irma " as ignorant . and you are insulting the whole Muslim community and their holy values. Anyone here insulting Bible or Christian values ?
Plus you didnt answer my question either.
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| 52. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 10:35 am |
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1.Irma is a complete ignorant
2. I think starving yourself for religious beliefs is stupid and bears no value
3. You are cheating yourselves
4. A hypocrasy comes to my mind
5. What you wrote is a pure philosophy made for men by men to
6. Or did you just shut down your brain and followed those who were just human beings like you?
What about the first one ? You are calling " Irma " as ignorant . and you are insulting the whole Muslim community and their holy values. Anyone here insulting Bible or Christian values ?
Plus you didnt answer my question either.
1. Are you Irma? A person who speaks in public knows that he/she can be criticised. Or Tunci doesnt know this.
2. Tunci, it was my opinion given on fasting, it wasnt directed personally to you. Learn to read with understanding.
3. Yes, all religious people cheat themselves. Again, an opinion given in general.
4. Tunci, does it directly state: Tunci is a hypocrate? Well, if the shoes fit, wear them. 
5. Where do you see a personal insult? Arent you too much sensitive? Not mature enough to distinguish the difference of giving opinions in general and conversations? How old are you?
6. Again, was it directed to you personally?
Tunci, your claims that I insulted you personally is a typical scamming of another person, because you found zero arguments to share, so this is easy to victimize yourself and accuse the other part while using a personal insult.
Tunci, checkmate!
I insult Irma (and other ignorant leaders) as much as I can. Because they distort the true message of Christ. And I have a full right to stand up and say that what Irma does is wrong.
Edited (8/18/2011) by lemon
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| 53. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 10:46 am |
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1. Are you Irma? A person who speaks in public knows that he/she can be criticised. Or Tunci doesnt know this.
2. Tunci, it was my opinion given on fasting, it wasnt directed personally to you. Learn to read with understanding.
3. Yes, all religious people cheat themselves. Again, an opinion given in general.
4. Tunci, does it directly state: Tunci is a hypocrate? Well, if the shoes fit, wear them.
5. Where do you see a personal insult? Arent you too much sensitive? Not mature enough to distinguish the difference of giving opinions in general and conversations? How old are you?
6. Again, was it directed to you personally?
Tunci, your claims that I insulted you personally is a typical scamming of another person, because you found zero arguments to share, so this is easy to victimize yourself and accuse the other part while using a personal insult.
Tunci, checkmate!
I insult Irma (and other ignorant leaders) as much as I can. Because they distort the true message of Christ. And I have a full right to stand up and say that what Irma does is wrong.
Here we go again. The queen of insults are on the stage. Hey, My friend I dont know who you are but You keep contradicting yourself, if you want to spread Gospel [your missionary work] then you have to stop attacking people and change your childish attitues. Plus stop personal insults. Jesus Christ whom you are claiming to follow, never attacked people as you did. He [Jesus] spread LOVE, not HATRET . Be a good witness on earth.
Note ; Gospel means "Good news " , Is this your style giving people Good News ?
Edited (8/18/2011) by tunci
Edited (8/18/2011) by tunci
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| 54. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 11:34 am |
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Here we go again. The queen of insults are on the stage. Hey, My friend I dont know who you are but You keep contradicting yourself, if you want to spread Gospel [your missionary work] then you have to stop attacking people and change your childish attitues. Plus stop personal insults. Jesus Christ whom you are claiming to follow, never attacked people as you did. He [Jesus] spread LOVE, not HATRET . Be a good witness on earth.
Note ; Gospel means "Good news " , Is this your style giving people Good News ?
Your personal insults : Seems like your mind has a narrow look at things ,especially to Islamic Rituels. First you need take your horse glasses off [its a saying] and see the whole context
The queen of insults are on the stage.
change your childish attitues
Lemons personal insults: Zero
As for if Jesus criticised or not, I am afraid my dear friend (whoever you are) you know too little from Injeel. He did criticise pharisees (by the way orthodox religious leaders).
First learn to read with understanding. Just plain reading gives nothing, really.
Spreading Good News doesnt mean agreeing with religions and thereof stupid outcomes that are traditions. Spreading Good News means making people aware of their sins and seek the repentance, reconciliation and the Kingdom of God.
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| 55. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 11:53 am |
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1. Are you Irma? A person who speaks in public knows that he/she can be criticised. Or Tunci doesnt know this.
2. Tunci, it was my opinion given on fasting, it wasnt directed personally to you. Learn to read with understanding.
3. Yes, all religious people cheat themselves. Again, an opinion given in general.
4. Tunci, does it directly state: Tunci is a hypocrate? Well, if the shoes fit, wear them.
5. Where do you see a personal insult? Arent you too much sensitive? Not mature enough to distinguish the difference of giving opinions in general and conversations? How old are you?
6. Again, was it directed to you personally?
Tunci, your claims that I insulted you personally is a typical scamming of another person, because you found zero arguments to share, so this is easy to victimize yourself and accuse the other part while using a personal insult.
Tunci, checkmate!
I insult Irma (and other ignorant leaders) as much as I can. Because they distort the true message of Christ. And I have a full right to stand up and say that what Irma does is wrong.
Tunci, does it directly state: Tunci is a hypocrate? Well, if the shoes fit, wear them.
Tunci, your claims that I insulted you personally is a typical scamming of another person,
I insult Irma (and other ignorant leaders) as much as I can
Lemon´s personal insults zero ? what about the ones above ?
Listen my friend, I dont wanna carry on this useless argument with you. Only one last thing I want to say that is ;
If your heaven is a place in where there are people like you, then I dont wanna go to Heaven. Keep your heaven for yourself.
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| 56. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 02:01 pm |
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Lemon every religion is built on the same foundation and that is faith, faith that the religion you´re practicing is right, that the Holy Book you read is right, and faith that God does exist..
Remember Islam is from the same string of monetheistic faiths as Judaism and Christianity.. They all derive from God (The idea of one God - started up by Abraham or Ibrahim)
Also remember that all 3 prophets are related to each other and all related to Noah (Nuh) and Abrahim (Ibrahim)..
All 3 preach the same message, and these religious conflicts in the world are started up by uneducated people who believe their own religion is the right one. You need to remember that not only Christians live on this world, but also Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Atheists and we need to learn how to co-operate and live peacefully with each other.
As for fasting, Christians fast aswell, and since you are not supportive of the whole ideals behind ramadan, perhaps you should refrain from talking about the religious side of fasting since it looks like it gets you a bit emotional. Also I think you have no right to insult people for following their faith, how would you feel if I insulted yours?
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| 57. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 02:04 pm |
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Tunci, does it directly state: Tunci is a hypocrate? Well, if the shoes fit, wear them.
Tunci, your claims that I insulted you personally is a typical scamming of another person,
I insult Irma (and other ignorant leaders) as much as I can
Lemon´s personal insults zero ? what about the ones above ?
Listen my friend, I dont wanna carry on this useless argument with you. Only one last thing I want to say that is ;
If your heaven is a place in where there are people like you, then I dont wanna go to Heaven. Keep your heaven for yourself.
None of those above was a personal direct insult to you. Except the one that I accused you later with scamming in order to prove that you manipulate with my words that had nothing personal to you. You successfully victimized yourself and you are good at it.
Well, from now on I should think that
Irma = Tunci
Fasting = Tunci
Orthodox leaders = Tunci
All victims = Tunci
All insults automatically go to Tunci
Tunci = everyone, everything.
When lemon criticises anything it insults Tunci, when lemon criticises someone it insults Tunci. I didnt know Tunci was omnipresent and represents everything.
You dont know what you are wishing yourself. If you dont want Heaven then you wont go there. AMEN!
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| 58. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 02:19 pm |
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Lemon every religion is built on the same foundation and that is faith, faith that the religion you´re practicing is right, that the Holy Book you read is right, and faith that God does exist..
Remember Islam is from the same string of monetheistic faiths as Judaism and Christianity.. They all derive from God (The idea of one God - started up by Abraham or Ibrahim)
Also remember that all 3 prophets are related to each other and all related to Noah (Nuh) and Abrahim (Ibrahim)..
All 3 preach the same message, and these religious conflicts in the world are started up by uneducated people who believe their own religion is the right one. You need to remember that not only Christians live on this world, but also Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Atheists and we need to learn how to co-operate and live peacefully with each other.
As for fasting, Christians fast aswell, and since you are not supportive of the whole ideals behind ramadan, perhaps you should refrain from talking about the religious side of fasting since it looks like it gets you a bit emotional. Also I think you have no right to insult people for following their faith, how would you feel if I insulted yours?
Noorah,
Completely disagree with you. I suggest you do a homework (a deeper theology) not the shallow statements made to simplify the truth. That is Satan´s work. He mixes a bit of truth with lies and feeds with it masses, mainly people like you.
I respect everyone as a person but I dont respect their spiritual choice.
Christians fast? Oh, yes, religious christians (catholics and orthodox, because they have a need to show off their "good" religious acts). However, nowhere in the Bible it says you must fast. Theres no such order. Opposite, Bible states if you fast, do it the way that nobody should know that you fast. And fasting is an individual act (not group).
No one can insult my faith. There is nothing stupid in Jesus.
Before you say anything to me, educate yourself please on theology, doctrines and dogmas.
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| 59. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 02:37 pm |
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Lemon, considering I am actually majoring in religious theology in a country that has NO biased views on religion, I am most likely more intelligent than you on this subject.
What makes you think that these peoples beliefs are stupid? Who are you to even critisize religious rituals as well. WHO ARE YOU? A muslim doesnt fast to get praise and sympathy, a muslim fasts for themselves and God. You act like you are educated in this subject, but it doesnt look like it. Just because you see a couple of pictures of muslims breaking their fasts with other people, you assume we do it as a selfish act instead of a selfless one. And it is selfless, considering when you strip away all the cultural influences, Ramadan is for the INDIVIDUAL, to detox their body from sins, to show them how lucky they are to have food and water and also is a revision lesson lets say to remind the Muslims what Islam is all about.
Granted, there nothing stupid about Jesus. The only thing I find wrong about Christianity is that you believe that he is the son of God. But unlike you, I am only commenting on YOUR faith, I am not ridiculing it to cause more controversy.
So before ridiculing and questioning other faiths, why not study about your own religion? Get more educated about Christianity and then you might see there is good and bad in every religion and belief system in this world. Until then though bitter lemon let the muslims fast in peace.
And also remember lemon, many people die in the name of religion, instead of causing hate, we need to preach acceptance. If you don´t like Islam, tough, its here to stay. Why don´t you focus on something more important like family, Jesus, work and life etc.
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| 60. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 02:43 pm |
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To Lemon..."You act like you are educated in this subject, but it doesnt look like it."
I totally agree with you Nuraa..
Thanks.
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| 61. |
18 Aug 2011 Thu 04:05 pm |
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This thread has been locked because of continued personal attacks.
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(61 Messages in 7 pages - View all)
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Thread locked by a moderator or admin. |
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