Holy month of Ramazan has begun Published Sept. 4, 2008 By Mehmet Birbiri 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs host nation advisor INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- If your maid or gardener stops eating and drinking or refuses to accept food or drinks during the day time, don't get upset - they are fasting for the holy month of Ramazan. As of Sept. 1, more than one billion of the world's population changed their way of doing things overnight. The Islamic month of fasting, called Ramazan in Turkey, is a month when Moslems commemorate the revelation of God's gift to humanity, the Holy Koran. Ramazan is considered to be the Sultan of the Eleven Months since Prophet Mohammed started to receive the Holy Koran in this month. It's the month of great spiritual and material blessings that Moslems all over the world look forward to. The religion of Islam is based on five principles: · Believe 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 Ramazan · Pilgrimage to Mecca and other holy sites in Saudi Arabia at least once in a lifetime Ramazan 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. Because of this, from year-to-year, Ramazan rotates throughout the four seasons and throughout every month of the solar calendar. Every Moslem should observe the fast of Ramazan. Only children, pregnant women, sick people, travelers and soldiers at war are exempt from fasting. The fast starts daily before sunrise and ends immediately after sunset. During daylight hours, one is to abstain from food, drink and intimacy between husband and wife. After sunset, Moslems are permitted to break the fast for the day. However, one is not to over-eat, over-drink or indulge in any self-gratifying activities as this can take away from the spirit of the fast. The Ramazan fast is not just a fast of physical food or a fast to attain spiritual benefits, it's a fast to benefit the total person physically, spiritually and mentally. Moslems believe they fast for God's pleasure. While fasting, Moslems are concious of the need to appreciate and respect both man and outer world as a creation of the Almighty God. The fasting Moslems also get a better understanding for the needy ones who cannot find food to eat. During the fast, Moslems try to avoid being spiritually idle or morally absentminded, and the lazy tendency to miss daily prayers with no acceptable excuse. Most believe the time spent watching television, listening to music or playing sports should instead be spent in prayer, contemplation and religious study. Moslems should read one thirtieth of the Holy Koran each day so as to complete the reading over this 30-day fast period. The time spent in devotion to God will help keep one in tune with the spirit of the fast. As good guests respecting the beliefs of our hosts, do not eat and drink anything in public during fasting hours throughout Ramazan. Smoking is also prohibited while fasting. Ramazan ends Sept. 29 at which time Moslem's observe a three-day Ramazan Festival from Sept. 30 - Oct. 2. Your Turkish co-workers, maids and gardeners may be fasting and, as a result, their sugar level might drop and they may become nervous or less conscious and weak, mainly in the afternoon. For this reason, be more concious about safety and please pay attention to those operating machines or vehicles. Drivers on-and-off base might be very nervous and drive more offensively, especially right before fast breaking time in the evenings when everybody rushes and becomes impatient, so drive defensively. Keep these facts in mind and consider your safety and the safety of others during Ramazan.