Islam is the largest religion in Turkey. More than 99 percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunni. Christianity (Oriental Orthodoxy, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic) and Judaism are the other religions in practice, but the non-Muslim population declined in the early 2000s.
According to the state, 99.8% of the population is initially registered as Muslim. As much as 90% of the population follows Sunni Islam. Most Turkish Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. The remaining 0.2% are Christians and adherents of other officially recognised religions like Judaism.
Turkish Muslims are largely Sunni, and follow the Hanafi school of legal jurisprudence. Alevi Muslims make up anywhere between 15-20%, and smaller Ja'afari Shi'a Muslim communities are present. Sufism has had a long presence and a profound impact on Turkish Islam.
Although not originally Muslims, the nomadic Turkic people converted to Islam after being conquered by the powerful Muslim Empire from modern-day Iran. As they rose within the ranks of the Muslim armies, the Turks eventually formed their own power base and began the Seljuk Empire.
Traditional Tengrism was more embraced by the nomadic Turks than by those residing in the lower mountains or forests. This belief influenced Turkic and Mongol religious history since ancient times until the 14th century, when the Golden Horde converted to Islam.
Religion in Turkey explained | Tips for Foreigners, Non-Muslims
When was Islam banned in Turkey?
In Turkey, secularism or laicism (or laïcité) was first introduced with the 1928 amendment of the Constitution of 1924, which removed the provision declaring that the "Religion of the State is Islam", and with the later reforms of Turkey's first president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which set the administrative and ...
More than 90% of the Turkish population is muslim, whom are not allowed to eat pork for religious reasons. Pigmeat in Turkey is sold to ethnic minorities like Greeks, ex-patriates and tourists.
Iran and Turkey are not Arab countries and their primary languages are Farsi and Turkish respectively. Arab countries have a rich diversity of ethnic, linguistic, and religious communities. These include Kurds, Armenians, Berbers and others. There are over 300 million Arabs.
Some Arabs may have felt that the Ottoman Empire, which was ruled by a Turkish elite, was neglecting or suppressing Arab interests and identity. This could have led to a sense of dissatisfaction or resentment among some Arabs towards the Ottoman government, which could be interpreted as a form of "betrayal."
Turks did not eat pork even before Islamization. The most important reason for this was that pork was not a suitable animal for migration. It is possible to say that Turks could not get used to pork even after they settled down. However, after adopting Islam, they removed this meat from their menu.
Secular systems are those where Sharia plays no role in the nation's legal system and religious interference in state affairs, politics, and law is not permitted. Turkey has been an example of a Muslim-majority nation with a secular system, although its secularism has recently come under intense pressure.
As Turkey is a predominantly Islamic country, Christmas isn't widely celebrated amongst Turkish people. However, things are a little different in Istanbul.
It depends on where you're travelling to but most regions in Turkey are safe and tourist-friendly. However, the Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria, and all but essential travel to the Sirnak and Hakkari provinces.
The Qur'an explicitly forbids drinking and a reliable hadith forbids even indirect association with alcohol; working from these principles, muftis have no choice but to tell some questioners that they must quit their jobs although they do not have to divorce their spouses or shun family members who drink.
In conclusion, you can drink alcohol in Turkey, but there are some important restrictions and regulations that you should be aware of. The legal drinking age is 18, and it is illegal to drink alcohol in public places. Restaurants, bars, and hotels are allowed to serve alcohol, but they must have a license to do so.
The Ottoman Empire sided with Germany in World War I (1914–18); postwar treaties dissolved the empire, and in 1922 the sultanate was abolished by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who proclaimed the Republic of Turkey the following year.
The Great Turkish War started in 1683, with a grand invasion force of 140,000 men marching on Vienna, supported by Hungarian noblemen rebelling against Habsburg rule. To stop the invasion, another Holy League was formed, composed of Austria and Poland (notably in the Battle of Vienna), Venetians and the Russian Empire.
There is a strong social expectation that unmarried people from opposite genders should not show interest or affection towards one another alone in public. Therefore, people date/socialise in groups or at functions where they will not draw public attention. People generally date with the hope of marriage in mind.
In the Levant, the Turks live across the region. In Iraq and Syria the Turkish minorities are commonly referred to as "Turkmen", "Turkman" and "Turcoman"; historically, these terms have been used to designate Turkish speakers in Arab areas, or Sunni Muslims in Shitte areas.
Turks, originally a nomadic people from Central Asia, established several empires, including the Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, which was founded in Anatolia by Turkish ruler Osman in 1299.
Pork is not widely available in Turkey because most Turks are Muslims and cannot eat it but there are places that sell it. Pork and bacon products are available in certain high-end supermarkets such as Macro, CarrefourSA, or Migros but you will not find pork in a regular butcher shop or served in restaurants.
Turkey is a secular country, and even though the majority of the Turkish population is Muslim, the consumption of alcohol both in public and in private is very common. Though due to this fact, issues such as alcohol addiction (alcoholism), and other serious issues caused by this factor are a problem in the country.
Accordingly, a classic Turkish breakfast is generally comprised of black and green olives, cucumbers, cured meats, dips and sauces, eggs, fresh cheeses, fresh tomatoes, fresh-baked bread, fruit preserves and jams, honey, pastries, and sweet butter.
