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.

well i m not a turk,but i m muslim and i fast.

for all answers i agree with CANLI'S post

it is ot mandatory to fast for pregnant women--its upto ones own will and power

same is for ill peoples.
rather if we dont fast then it is mandatory for us to give a desires amount of money and food to poors

Fasting is the single worship done without any hypocrisy.
Some other worships might be done with some hypocrisy or outward show, but not fasting as nobody is left hungary during the hours of fasting with the intent of outward show. He can eat and drink when he is by himself. That's why God says the reward of fasting would be big and someone who is fasting would be as innocent as the day he was born on contidition that he abstains from committing other sins during fasting. Fasting reminds people of the real owner of all kinds of food and drink and makes them perceive what a great blessing eating and drinking is and understand the hungary and the need helping them.

Thanks for your answers. I know what MrX means - I think that social pressures one way or another account for a lot these days, but I also think that people do things for their own self satisfaction (if you can call it that). I know muslims that do and do not fast. My son's girlfriend is muslim and she does not but her father does.

For us (those of us for whom it is not part of our culture - I wont say religion!) it is difficult to understand, not the reasons, but how you can physically abstain from eating and drinking for what seems to me a long time!

I totally respect your fortitude and admire you all for it, whilst in this day and age many cultures and beliefs are being eroded.

I think fasting, like most things is a personal choice.

A lot of people that do fast, don't loose weight, because as soon as they hear the gunshot or whatever in the evening they then proceed to eat and eat.

I do not eat breakfast or meals during the the day all year, but overcompensate on an evening, with the result I am overweight.

In some cases though, people from certain villages or areas do fast because of local pressure or seem to be fasting when in public but not in private. I am not sure of the percentages, but I think it will differ throughout villages and regions. At a guess I would say 60 or 70% where I am.

If you are in a town or village you will see quite a few people not fasting because although the country has a Muslim population, they do not all practice it devotely, in the same way as some Christians.

Also bear in mind that a lot of people sleep here midday.

Myself, I applaud someone who can fast, and hold to it, as a sign of their convictiction.

You do see people that seem happier and contented after Ramazan is over, wether spiritual or mental I do not know, but you can see it.

fasting means to keep urself far from:
sex,kissing(anything that comes through your mouth)eating,drinking(any kind of drink) and any other sins during day time(at least an hour ago bfor sunrise till sunset)

its aim is to make the muslims understand the beauty and comfort that we have in our daily life...to understand the poor,how thet live and how do they suffer...to keep the body healthy(your stoma gets some rest,beside ur heart)..to keep far you from the common sins...to provide a more peaceful time and life for a while(in the end of ramadan it becomes a good reason to see all your family and relatives,bairam)

the results,you gets closer to the heaven ...your lips mostly get dry u suffer first few days ...you understand what the hell it means to have nothing to eat(the ppl who has no food all around the world) and it makes u not to waste the food....and also you can get on weight if you eat too much after sunset ...generally it gives a good rhytim to your stoma...i recommend yaaa aaaaaaaaaallll...

Aslan,
I am fasting, so that is why I am up at 4.30.
My first post said that my guess of 50% was not intended to be criticism. It is only my best guess. Please dont be offended.

The religious practice that is done as a show-off is worthless. Therefore any public aspect of any religion is not as important as what is inside the persons mind. Basically, religion is a personal thing and the more you try to make it public the more it will lose its essence and will turn into something else.

As we know there are many sick minded people and they do look for consolation in their tiny worlds.

no women dont fast until they reach this stage in their life..and they are banned from doing many things during their special time..ramazan or not

and 9 isnt very unusual..but bi would say 7 is an odd age to start ur special time...

during their special time they cannot perform namaz..cannot have sex,,cannot touch the quran..there are other things as well.but these are the most easy to remember

the same as technically muslim women shouldn'r really wear nail varnish unless they take it off everytime that they perform ablution..because that means u are not cleaning ur whole body the nails wouldn't be clean

yes they can cook..unfortunately

actually this sounds really strange to me!!! :-S
a woman during her period is not a dirty woman..it's a totally natural procedure ,so how can she not pray or touch Quran..all this is in our nature and this is given from God too!actually this is similar with things that are said by "some" priests here too ,but i totally disagree and i am praying during my period too..i don't believe that in the eyes of God this is considered as sinn..

if u are unclean..then it is rude to perform namaz or read the words of the quran during this time..the same as the area where namaz is performed always has to be clean..thats like saying ur cleanliness isnt important....its disrespectful...

The same rule exists for the Orthodox Christians too (don't know about Catholics). Women in that special period, can't receive the Holly Communion. And this has to do with the sin (it's a sin they say) of losing blood, even if caused from an injury, after drinking Jeasus's blood, through the Holly Communion.

I find all these too exaggerated actually. They want to make me believe that I ll go to hell, if I get injured in a car crash, after receiving the Holly Communion? :-S Isn't it absurd?

Well...I do believe in God, but I find it very hard to just follow the rules and not question them, especially when they are as paranoid as the one above.

oh!!we obviously disagree robino..i find it more disrespectfull to make fun with comments on nails ...i personally don't think that a woman during her period is unclean..this is more i guess in terms of theological approach..ur comment was full of ironie!!(the one about the nails..)my purpose was not to be critical..i just showed my point of view..

exactly my point..sophie i totally agree with you!that was what i wanted to say

it wasnt full or irony..it is the truth..but yet so many choose to wear nail varnish..so technically they havent performed their ablution effectively..thats not ironic its the truth neway we shall agree to disagree

Well, the few times that I visit a church (I prefer to pray in my home's privacy) I get so mad, that I think that although I enter 'clean', I exit 'dirty'.

While they are waiting to receive the Holly Communion for example, there are hundreds of people, in a row, waiting for their turn to come. But till it comes, they argue with each other about who should pass first, they gossip about the clothes that their neighbour is wearing, they chat and laugh, while exchanging their news and in the end, they open their mouth to receive it, thinking how disgusted they are, from the old man that used the same spoon before them.

And right after, they go back home, feeling 'clean', happy and proud of themselves.

How pathetic...

It seems to me, in every religion, that it is not God or Allah's will that these things are decided. It is MEN's will! In their ignorance of such things as childbirth and menstruation they believe you are "unclean" and make these "rules" and do them in God/Allah's name.

that defeats the object of them going there...showing face and actually being sincere are two different things..and unfortunately some people are obviously not being sincere..(like the ones u mentioned)

which murders are holy?:-S im a little perplexed..

i agree with u in that case..all this talk of jihad and other such things are nonsense..u cant kill innocents during jihad

So what about fasting then??

merhaba!
let`s not mix the faith with some ritual practices...invented by people and passed on from generation to generation. The true faith lays in everyone`s heart irrespective of how we choose to call the divinity...and if we do not "discover" there, the outer rituals/gestures/actions are useless...
regarding the "jihad" mentioned here, the true significance of the term is "the inner war against the "earthy" tendencies of the self"... unfortunately, we have become familiar with the negative conotation of the term, which the fundamentalists explore....

I flew out to Turkey at the end of sept this year and I stayed with my fiance's family and it was right in the middle of Ramazan.
This is where the Turkish hospitality took me aback !
They were fully aware i am Christian although not practicing and they absolutely did everything in their power to make me welcome and feel at home with them.
My fiance would get up at 4.10 am to have his breakfast now i was also willing to get up and join them but they absolutely insisted that i stayed sleeping and i would eat when i wake up.
I was presented with a full breakfast every morning which is something i dont do in the UK so that HUGE meal set me up for the day but NOOOOOOO not for them, at lunchtime a meal was being prepared and i questioned why his sister in law was making a meal day time and he replied "its for you" sheeeeeesh i was still full up from breakfast !! noooooooo i dont want anything else im still full up from breakfast .
but the meal arrived and i had to eat ,they were absolutely sure i was trying to starve and fast with them and so out of respect i ate and then they were worried because i didnt eat much but i just couldnt keep up.
Then copius amounts of tea and coffee throughout the day, now this was in 30 degree heat i was eating and drinking in fornt of people who couldn't join me and im sure they must have been so thirsty, i felt so bad it wasnt because i wanted to fast i just couldnt keep up with the amount of food they presented to me and to think i was eating and drinking when they couldnt then the ashtray kept coming out, women dont smoke where he lives and i mean NO female smoked and yet here they were actually wanting me to smoke.i said i'd have one when i wanted one and then i would go out onto the balcony but nope every half an hr i was presented with the ashtray again they didnt want me to think i felt i couldnt .
His father actually gave my fiance permission for him not to fast in the week i visited to make me feel at home,and i absolutely begged him not to do it but for 1 day to make me feel better (think he did it cos he's a gut bucket) lol.
i am sorry to have gone off the subject of the original post a bit but i wanted to tell you of just how hospitable the Turks are, here i was in the middle of one if not the most important religious celebrations there is and they did absolutely EVERYTHING in their power to make me feel at home
One thing i did which i was soooooooo embarassed about on my first evening meal with them we all sat down on the floor and everyone was preparing to eat, i was handed what looked like an entire loaf of bread, they started to put food into the bread and the kids started picking at the food and so i copied and i ate, the kids started to snigger, his sister in law started laughing then i looked up and noticed no adults were eating , i stopped munching in mid floe and asked whats wrong?
my fiance said its not time yet we got 3 minutes before we can eat.
OOOOH GROUND OPEN ME UP AND SWALLOW ME!!!
i saw the kids eating and i saw them putting food into their bread but the kids were exempt and so they could eat, the adults were not going to waste time in taking their first mouthful so were preparing their food so on the bell they were off but me i didnt see the bit where they didnt actually start to eat, i tucked in.
My fiance told me afterwards that his mother and father did everything they could not to laugh.They thought it was so funny and yet i was the total opposite how could i have done something so disrespectful even if it was done out of ignorance.

Kind Regards

Jackie
x

I really enjoyed reading this - what a lovely example of Turkish hospitality! I am sure the reason they were not offended by any mistakes, is because you were trying so hard to "fit in" and it was obvious your mistakes were innocent. They sound a wonderful family

Jackie, thanks for adding this post to my original thread. It is just want I was looking for - some real experiences! You sounded as though you had a wonderful time.

thank you for the posative feedback because i didnt really answer any of the original questions asked lol
but still now i can not get over how his family and also what i omitted to say all his family friends and other reltatives (who we visited) did the same, coffee, tea came out , i drank whilst the others chatted.
i had fresh grapes picked from the garden and one elderly uncle i actually did a favour to. As he was elderly he wasnt actually doing a strict fast and when he realised i smoked ,he said something quickly to his daughter and she was off like a ferret down a rabbit hole and came back with an ashtray, he held back from smoking because we were visitng ,oh his face lit up and we had a cigarette together it made us both feel better lol