Mark and Anne's Adventures: Mosques and background on Islam

My guide Pelin was very easy to talk to and openly discussed perspectives and concerns with how outsiders view Turkey. They believe the west unfairly characterizes them as fundamentalists, which is very far from the truth. She went to great extent to differentiate Turkey and mainstream Islam with what is seen in very fundamentalist countries (Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia). Like most in Turkey, she is a practicing muslim, but appears similar to someone you would see in the US. She dresses like a 30-something professional woman in the US - does not wear a veil, burka or other garments attributed to being mulsim. Turkey's official religion is muslim, but there is no pressure to participate or retribution for non-participation. When we visited a mosque, women do participate in the prayer with men.

Friday is the holiest day and it is traditional that men will participate in afternoon prayers at the mosque, but women are also welcome. We toured the Suleyman mosque just following afternoon prayers. It was packed and the mood in the city changed dramatically afterwards. Friday after prayers is their start to the weekend and the streets were packed.

One item I found interesting is the towers (called Minuet's) that are at every mosque. They have traditionally served the purpose of assisting in telling time (like a sun dial) and also allows the Imam to call for prayers from the elevated tower. In the old days by yelling, in modern times by loud speaker. The number of towers is an indication of the prominence of the mosque. Note in the photo's below some have more than others.