Remain respectful, aware during Ramadan

  • Published
  • By By Mehmet Birbiri
  • 39th Air Base Wing Host Nation Advisor
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Beginning July 20, Incirlik residents may notice that many Turkish people will stop eating and drinking during the daytime. The gardeners working in yards under the summer sun and soaked with sweat will refuse to accept any food or drink during the day. Do not be alarmed or get upset. During the holy month of Ramadan or Ramazan in Turkey, this is a normal practice.

More than one billion of the world's population will change their way of doing things overnight for their religious beliefs for the Islamic month of fasting. This is the month where Muslims commemorate the revelation of God's gift to humanity, the Holy Quran.

Ramadan is considered to be the Sultan of the Eleven Months as the Prophet Mohammed started to receive the Holy Quran in this month. It is the month of great spiritual and material blessings that Muslims all over the world anticipate.

The religion of Islam is based on five principles:

· Belief in one God and Prophet Mohammed as his messenger
· Prayer, five times daily
· Giving alms to poor and needy people
· Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan
· Pilgrimage to Mecca and other holy sites in Saudi Arabia at least once in a lifetime

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar. The months on the lunar calendar begin and end with the sighting of the new moon. The lunar calendar is 10-11 days shorter than the solar calendar. Because of this, from year to year, Ramadan rotates throughout the four seasons and throughout every month of the solar calendar.

İt is believed that every Muslim should observe the fast of Ramadan with the exception of children, pregnant women, sick people, travelers and soldiers at war.

The fast starts daily from almost one hour before sunrise to immediately after sunset. During the daylight hours, one should abstain from food, drink and intimacy. Those fasting don't let anything pass their lips. They abstain from smoking, as well. After sunset, Muslims are permitted to break the fast for the day, however, they are not to overindulge in any self-gratifying activites that can take away from the spirit of the fast.

The Ramadan fast is not just a fast of physical food or spiritual benefits, it's a fast for the benefit of the total person physically, spiritually and mentally. Muslims fast for God's pleasure. While fasting, Muslims are conscious of the need to appreciate and respect both man and outer world as a creation of the Almighty God and also get a better understanding for the less fortunate who do not have food to eat.

As guests and to respect the beliefs of the host nation, do not eat or drink anything in public or streets during fasting hours in the month of Ramadan. Shops and eateries in the Alley outside of base will remain open during the holy month.

Ramadan ends Aug. 18 and a three-day Ramadan Festival starting Aug. 19 concludes the fast.

Turkish co-workers, friends, maids and gardeners may be fasting. As a result, their sugar level might drop and they could become nervous, less conscious, weak or dizzy. For that reason, be more conscious about safety. Pay more attention to those operating machines and vehicles. Drivers on and off base might drive more offensively, especially right before fast breaking time in the evening. Keep those concepts in mind and think of your and other's safety during Ramadan.