Experiencing Ramadan in Turkey

Experiencing Ramadan in Turkey

Ramadan was a very intriguing experience whilst vacating in Turkey. Prior to departing the UK, I packed my Bible in my luggage because I planned to heighten my Christian knowledge whilst abroad. I felt like a smuggler as I knew that Turkey was a predominantly Muslim country.

Upon growing up, I learnt much about Ramadan from those around me, particularly whilst attending school. I can still remember the half empty classrooms I entered when the Muslim students were celebrating Eid. Many of my Muslim friends often told me that Ramadan is done for people to remember the poor and to experience their hunger, additionally to enable individuals to be thankful to God for what they posses.

The Christian equivalent of Ramadan is Lent. Being a Baptist, I never really partook in Lent but have on several occasions fasted to draw myself closer to God through prayer and meditation. When I fast, it enables me to feel how hunger and thirst feels like and how fortunate we are to be in the United Kingdom where both are scarce in comparison to many countries around the world. The custom of fasting often reminds me of when Jesus was cast into the wilderness and endured temptation from the devil. When tempted of the devil to turn stone into bread, Jesus stated “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God”. This statement invokes me to think how as human beings, we need to not only feed our bodies with food but also our spirits with the word of God. What good is there being physically strong but spiritually weak?

We arrived in Turkey during the early hours of the morning and after enduring the 4 hour flight and 2 hour coach journey, we decided to catch up on some much needed rest. Whilst falling in and out of sleep, I noticed the sound of what seemed to be a loud audio beep. This beep that I heard sounded three times. After the beep sounded, I heard what sounded like a Muslim call to prayer being broadcasted through megaphones across the small town of Marmaris.

I decided to ask our holiday rep why the loud sound, and was startled to learn that it was the month of Ramadan. No matter where I went in Marmaris, once the beep sounded, all went silent. If shop owners were playing music, the radio or talking, everybody would be silent, even the majority of British tourists respected the custom and remained silent.

Marmaris is known as a tourist resort amongst the Turkish people so I figured that I hadn’t experienced what Ramadan really had to offer. I was told that the “real” Turkey and likewise Ramadan can be experienced in the capital of Istanbul. Consequently I didn’t experience or get the opportunity to interact with many Muslims.

Often times my sisters and I went out places to eat such as restaurants and bars, many of the shop owners bestowed that they were unable to eat or drink during Ramadan. I imagined it must have been hard for restaurant workers, especially chefs to restrain from eating when food and drink stare them in the face so frequently.

My vacation to Turkey was a memorable one and a journey I hope to make again. During Ramadan, I didn’t see much interaction between Muslims and Christians but I know that peace, meditation, reflection and praise fill the hearts and minds of Muslims who partake in Ramadan.

Hussain Bapulah