[UtidaBrar]

I'm frankly quite shocked. I knew it's secular but how far do you go from Islam? A small minority of women wear Islamic dress (in Istanbul) but the majority you wouldn't think they are your "Muslim" sisters. Turn on the TV in the hotel and the drama, soaps, etc they are dressed like Western women in short skirts and what not. Then the huge number of bars and clubs - isn't serving and storing alcohol haraam? And the locals smoke and date. Turkish bellydancing! Then shock horror the national drink is alcoholic "raki"? Huh! In a "Muslim" country.

It's a beautiful city but full of contradictions. So many famous mosques, the whirling dervishes, so much history but the country is way too secular! Shame, shame, shame!

[Gasfghj]

Turkish bellydancing!

LOL, great counter.

[iH1wMOhE]

I'm frankly quite shocked. I knew it's secular but how far do you go from Islam? A small minority of women wear Islamic dress (in Istanbul) but the majority you wouldn't think they are your "Muslim" sisters. Turn on the TV in the hotel and the drama, soaps, etc they are dressed like Western women in short skirts and what not. Then the huge number of bars and clubs - isn't serving and storing alcohol haraam? And the locals smoke and date. Turkish bellydancing! Then shock horror the national drink is alcoholic "raki"? Huh! In a "Muslim" country.

It's a beautiful city but full of contradictions. So many famous mosques, the whirling dervishes, so much history but the country is way too secular! Shame, shame, shame!

Mashallah! may Allah give all our sisters the spirit that we see in this post, and also to us brothers.

[11Pecepebra]

Sister, the anti-muslim forces ruled in Turkey for many many decades and they implemented a policy to forcibly take people away from Islam. Enough so that for some Turks, eating pork is a badge of honour. Look at how they un-necessarily changed the alphabet from arabic to cyllric just to take people away from the Quran! But Alhumdullilah, surely Turkey is moving in the right direction now? It may take 100 years again, but it is doing better. It takes a long time for changes to come into the country, Inshallah it will come..
also, if you are in Turkey, i'd have to point out, you are probably in the 'richer', more 'touristy' type areas which might give you this impression? From what i've heard the muslims in Istanbul tend to live in poorer communities. And the rich muslims are making great strides in anatolia in cities around turkey which are not so tourist friendly, but are a lot more Islamic in nature.

[rusculture]

To say Turkey on the wrong path implies that we know what Turkey was in the past and how it is developing from that.

Turkey is going from something very bad to something better.

Maybe we don't know what things were like before to judge them so harshly now.

[Grzqbmhy]

Sister, the anti-muslim forces ruled in Turkey for many many decades and they implemented a policy to forcibly take people away from Islam. Enough so that for some Turks, eating pork is a badge of honour. Look at how they un-necessarily changed the alphabet from arabic to cyllric just to take people away from the Quran! But Alhumdullilah, surely Turkey is moving in the right direction now? It may take 100 years again, but it is doing better. It takes a long time for changes to come into the country, Inshallah it will come..
also, if you are in Turkey, i'd have to point out, you are probably in the 'richer', more 'touristy' type areas which might give you this impression? From what i've heard the muslims in Istanbul tend to live in poorer communities. And the rich muslims are making great strides in anatolia in cities around turkey which are not so tourist friendly, but are a lot more Islamic in nature.

well said bro

the sister has good zeal though mashallah

things are improving in turkey though inshallah. dont forget its 20 percent shia and the shia make up the balk of secularists in turkey. they are called alevis i believe. as usual its the shia who are our cancer from within

[SzefciuCba]

I'm frankly quite shocked. I knew it's secular but how far do you go from Islam? A small minority of women wear Islamic dress (in Istanbul) but the majority you wouldn't think they are your "Muslim" sisters. Turn on the TV in the hotel and the drama, soaps, etc they are dressed like Western women in short skirts and what not. Then the huge number of bars and clubs - isn't serving and storing alcohol haraam? And the locals smoke and date. Turkish bellydancing! Then shock horror the national drink is alcoholic "raki"? Huh! In a "Muslim" country.

It's a beautiful city but full of contradictions. So many famous mosques, the whirling dervishes, so much history but the country is way too secular! Shame, shame, shame!

I just heard them say: "Oh! Just another fundamentalist, narrow minded, radical Muslim influenced by the Mullahs'

[unioneserry]

At least they've not declared themselves an Islamic state

Now compare that with Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other so called ''Muslim'' nations

[RichardFG435]

Dear brother and sisters,

Turkey is a missionary country collecting lots of nations. The summary of a huge emperor state. The last kahlifat was in this state. After the republic the spirit of the kahlifat is still living in this beautiful country.

As a secular country Turkey, gives the muslims to live their religion in a sincere manner. Secularism prevents hypocracies which is the most important danger against sincere iman.

Other countries as "islamic" in their names force people to behave in a way they really don't want to.

Freedom to practice their religion allows to grow also devote muslims.

Turkey is tried to be suprresed by very means, but especially last decade Turkey is trying to reown her mission and again to reunion the muslim countries with herself. With this reunion muslim countries, nations will be powerfull in all meanings with peace and love.

As muslims we must unite ourselves regardless which nations we belong. Because we are brothers and sisters in islam.

[Mmccqrtb]

I'm frankly quite shocked. I knew it's secular but how far do you go from Islam? A small minority of women wear Islamic dress (in Istanbul) but the majority you wouldn't think they are your "Muslim" sisters. Turn on the TV in the hotel and the drama, soaps, etc they are dressed like Western women in short skirts and what not. Then the huge number of bars and clubs - isn't serving and storing alcohol haraam? And the locals smoke and date. Turkish bellydancing! Then shock horror the national drink is alcoholic "raki"? Huh! In a "Muslim" country.

It's a beautiful city but full of contradictions. So many famous mosques, the whirling dervishes, so much history but the country is way too secular! Shame, shame, shame!

Despite this , Some people want to live the dream "Saudi Arab vs Turkey" and some have "predicted" the Turks to take the leadership of the Muslim Ummah in the next few years.

[secondmortgages]

A small minority of women wear Islamic dress (in Istanbul) but the majority you wouldn't think they are your "Muslim" sisters.

I heard 2/3 of Muslimahs in Turkey wear headscarves.

[Andrew1978]

Alhmadulillah in one bayaan Haz.Maulana Sajjad Naumani explained that now in Turkey things are changing. The president of Turkey Abdullah Gul is much better. He is Bayat rwith one Naqshbandi Shaykh. He is working but it's challenging for him but he is determined person so Inshaallah some change will happen there. We should make dua for him and his nation. Unfortunately i don't have link of that bayan.