Ramadan 2015 by Londra Gazete

The Turkish mosque with 10,000 people at iftar

Is the holy month better spent in Turkey or the UK?

Contents 5 Olive Tree

The charity that helps

Muslims everywhere

6 What they say

The voice of Turkish

speakers in London

14 10 thousand iftar

Süleymaniye Mosque’s

proud, long-lasting

tradition 16 A taste for everyone

How Aytaç Foods are

keeping cuisine alive

18 Watch what you eat

Lavish iftars are

not always great to eat

20 Ideas for meals

What you should

and should eat at night

26 Once a cinema

How life was breathed

into an old London building

28 Grace and abundance

Turkey’s religious

authorities based in the UK

Londra Ramadan |

JUNE 2015

Ramadan mubarak Welcome to Londra Gazete’s annual Ramadan supplement, in which we speak to leaders and members alike in London’s extensive Turkishspeaking Muslim community

‘An important, holy month’ David Burrowes Enfield Southgate MP

amadan is a very significant time for many of my constituents for prayer and worship. It is an important time for friends and family and for considering the needs of others. I recognise and respect this important holy month of Ramadan when fasting takes place as one of the five pillars of Islam. I also acknowledge that many Muslims read and study the Quran more than usual and engage in the Tarawih

congregational night prayer in the mosques. Fasting is an important exercise, not only for self-discipline and self-restraint but also to empathise with the poor and needy, who may often go a whole day without food. Concern for the needy is also marked before Eid al-Fitr, by giving alms before the prayer and sermon. I wish all Muslims a happy Ramadan and a joyful Eid al-Fitr.

‘Compassion, tolerance and community’ Joan Ryan Enfield North MP

send my warmest regards and best wishes to all Muslims in Enfield, across the country and around the world, as you observe Ramadan. This holy month provides an important time not only for Muslims to reflect upon the teachings of Islam, but also for our society as a whole to recognise the fantastic contributions Muslims make to our way of life. The Islamic values of compas-

sion, tolerance and supporting the community are principles that we should all hold dear. And I have the utmost respect for the Muslim community’s charitable work and services to the poor. As you gather with your family, friends and loved ones to fast, pray and perform iftar, I hope you all have a peaceful and happy Ramadan. Ramadan kareem.

Britain’s Muslim story Ramadan, the most holy month of the year for Muslims, is an ideal moment to learn what the faith is all about and how it arrived in this country

slam is the fastest growing religion in the world. It is also the second largest religion with over a billion followers. Muslims believe that Islam was revealed over 1400 years ago in Mecca, through Muhammad, the last prophet to be sent by God. Muslims across the world fast during the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, as one of the five pillars of Islam. This year Ramadan begins on 18 June and continues until 16 July, ending the holy month with ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ (Ramazan/Şeker Bayramı in Turkish), the festival of Breaking of the Fast. During the month of Ramadan, fasting Muslims will abstain from food, drink and certain other activities during daylight hours. Muslims see this as a time of worship and contemplation and to fulfil God’s commandments and grow one’s soul while strengthening family and community ties, and be on one’s best behaviour. FIRST PRESENCE As early as 1627 there were said to be nearly forty Muslims living here in London working as tailors, shoemakers, button makers and one even as a solicitor. There is some evidence of Ottoman Muslims travelling to England from the end of the sixteenth century. A merchant named Ahmet Efendi, accompanied by a certain Niqula, were believed to be the first Turks to arrive in England.

TURKISH BATHS A Turkish bath, opened in 1679, also testifies to the presence of Turks in London at that time. As early as 1777 Monshee Mahomet Saeed from Bengal was advertising for pupils in London; another who acquired prominence was Sake Deen Mohammed who came with Captain Baker of the East India Regiment in 1784 and was one of the first to settle permanently in England. He set up an ‘Indian Vapour Bath and Shampooing Establishment’ in Brighton. While he was highly popular with the public, his success was sealed when he was appointed ‘Shampooing Surgeon to His Majesty George IV’.

MUSLIMS IN THE VICTORIAN CENSUS The frequency and duration of Ottoman sailors and traders visiting British ports increased during the nineteenth century with some taking up permanent residence. For instance, according to the 1881 census, there were 8 Egyptians and 44 Turks resident in Merseyside. A transient Muslim population was to be found in the ports and urban centres of Britain in the late 1880s. Arab sailors arrived on trading vessels and war ships belonging to the Ottoman navy, while large numbers of lascars, or sailors, from different parts of the Indian subcontinent worked on British vessels.

THE INDIAN EFFECT Indeed, from the early nineteenth century onwards, Indian Muslims started to visit Britain in larger numbers. Muslim migration to Britain leading to the evolution of ‘settler ‘ communities of any significant size can be traced as far back as the middle of the nineteenth century when the first relatively permanent Muslim populations were established in Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, South Shields, and here in the East End of London. As Muslims settled in Britain, they gradually established institutions that they hoped would enable them to meet their material and spiritual needs. Continued on page 14

18 July

16 July

13 July

Ramadan begins at sunrise on

Ramadan ends at sunset on

Ramadan’s holiest night, Laylat al-Qadr (Kadir Gecesi)

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Britain’s Muslim story Continued from page 3

Poland is home to the fewest number of Muslims in Europe, at just 0.005% of the population, which equates to around 4000 people. Britain has Europe’s third largest Muslim population, after France and Germany. According to the 2011 Census there are 2.7 million living in the country, constituting 4.8% of the total population. The vast majority of Muslims in the United Kingdom live in London, but many others living in Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford and Luton. Census analysis showed that 35% of the population of Tower Hamlets is Muslim, some 100,000 people. The majority of the Muslim population is South Asian: 43% Pakistani, 17% Bangladeshi and 9% Indian.

emeni and Somali Muslim seamen set up makeshift prayer rooms in their dockyard communities in Cardiff and South Shields in the second half of the nineteenth century. An interesting example was the complex developed by an indigenous convert, Abdullah Quilliam. LIVERPOOL’S MUSLIMS The Liverpool Muslim Institute – containing a prayer room, an orphanage, a press and a school, the Liverpool Muslim Institute flourished in the 1890s. It served a significant Muslim community in an environment that was becoming virulently hostile from top to bottom with the Prime Minister William Gladstone - a practising Christian – railing at the alleged atrocities being committed by the Ottoman Turks on their Bulgarian Armenian subjects. With the construction of the Shahjehan Mosque in Woking in 1889 - the first purpose-built mosque anywhere in Western Europe - the centre of the Muslim community in Britain shifted there. A number of prominent converts contributed to its cultural and religious activities. Among them were some notable figures such as the Cambridge educated peer, Lord al-Farooq Headley; the author of the ‘Meaning of the Glorious Quran’, Marmaduke Pickthall and Lady Evelyn Zaineb Cobbold, probably the first English woman to go on pilgrimage to Mecca in 1934. THE COMMUNITIES TODAY While Islam is becoming more and more popular, liberalisation

Nafs

Arabic: ‫سفَن‬ ْ Turkish: Nefs

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and secularisation is also on rise. Islam is also practiced differently in different parts of the world: geographical, economic, and cultural factors all have an effect on this, meaning that Muslims have had to adapt and develop new practicable version of Islam in order to assimilate and adapt.

Recent research has revealed there are 15 million Muslims, of which four million are Turks, living in European Union coutnries. 68% of Turkish Muslims live in Germany. France has Europe’s greatest density of Muslims at 8.1% of its entire population, around five million people.

MOST CONVERTS ARE WOMEN Dr Khizar Humayun Ansari, director of the Centre for Ethnic Minority Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London, says the Muslim Presence in Britain shows there are around 100,000 converts to Islam in Britain, a majority of them women. The Muslim Council of Britain believes there are around 3,000 enduring Muslim organisations in Britain, of which about half are primarily involved with running religious schools and community centres. The vast majority are locally focused organisations and probably about half are registered charities, although many of these have only trivial amounts of finance. Many more have tiny memberships and are short-lived. However a fair number claim to act as umbrella organisations, mostly around specific issues.

This is an Arabic word occurring in the Qur’an and means self, psyche, ego or soul. In the Quran, the word is used in both the individualistic and collective sense, indicating that although humanity is united in possessing the qualities of a soul/nafs/consciousness, they are individually responsible for exercising the agencies of the free will that it provides them.

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A London-based foundation that offers

An Olive Tree

to people in need around the world

he Olive Tree Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation working with Islamic youth and others to educate and make them aware of bad habits like intoxication, gambling and the prevention of these happening in your life. It organises lectures and seminars on these subjects and also fundraises for people in need in Af-

rica and other third world counties. The organisation helps people by opening water wells helping them to work in farming by supplying with the technology. It also helps in education and nourishment by organising Qurbani campaigns every year. Olive Tree’s Eid celebrations are designed to bring families together. Since 2011 it has invited professors for education seminars

on topics such as “21st Century illnesses and medicine in Islam” It also has a visiting professor to Oxford University and a professor from Cambridge University for our lectures. Our fundraising event for Syria saw us sending clothes and medical equipment to be used by the people who were in need. In recent months the Olive Tree Education Foundation has been

organising seminars on each month starting from August 2014. Last Ramadan, it held several events from our people benefited. Follow the foundation on Facebook and its website, from where followers can register for regular email updates. The Olive Tree Education Foundation is run by volunteers who are fully committed to help people in need.

Olive Tree in action African tractor project Our African Tracker Project aims to provide equipment that can be used by a community in Africa. The tractor will be provided to an area with no agricultural machinery and where currently only human and animal power is being used to farm the land. This will dramatically increase productivity of the soil. The tractor can be rented out at

a rate of approximately £80 per day, for ploughing or to transport goods for building with the 10 Ton trailer. This will provide further funding for projects such as the development of field irrigation systems and water pumps. This is an exciting and highly beneficial project as it will provide sustained aid for a considerable amount of time.

Bangladesh Qurbani campaign Bangladesh has a population of over 150 million people. It is one the world’s most density populated countries with approximately 50% living below the poverty line. As well as the local Bangladeshi population, Olive Tree visited the

refugee camps which held numbers as high as 50,000 people. This project was carried through the charity Hasene, and a volunteer of ours was able to see first hand the distribution of the aid.

Mauritania well project Olive Tree raised funds to set up a water well in a village in the West African state of Mauritania. The project was a runaway success and received this message of thanks from the local community: “The well in Guinea-Bissau has finally been completed, Alhamdulillah. “The well was dug in the courtyard of a mosque and I have been told that normally the water from

wells in the area have to be filtered before consumption but the quality of the water from our well is far superior so no filtering is required and many people from the surrounding area are queuing for their drinking water from our well. “May Allah reward you all and may we all meet at the well of Khawthar and drink from the hands of our beloved Prophet.” JUNE 2015

| Londra Ramadan

What is Ramadan like

in Britain? Members of the Turkishspeaking communities tell us about their experiences of the Ramadan season in London, far away from family and the homeland By Yasemin Bakan

Ibrahim Uzun Businessman

Differences in Britain

Ahmet Pala Café owner

Missing the homeland It’s difficult being abroad, but easier to worship compared to Turkey. You feel it more because there is a yearning, a yearning for Turkey. There is no adhan (the call to prayer) here. Our adhan is read out inside the mosque. For us, even though it can be gruelling, the month of Ramadan passes happily. We do collective iftar meals. We do not lose our culture. We continue to teach our children the culture of Ramadan.

Adhan

Arabic: ‫ن َاذَأ‬

Turkish: Ezan

Abdullah Bilir Ottoman culinary expert

Peace for all I prepare meals from Konya [a central Anatolian town in Turkey] on Ramadan days. I make meat-based dishes, including Ottoman ‘Grand Vizier’ meatballs. Ramadan is a very busy time for people in this country. There are reciprocal visits, Quran readings and a lot of mutual support to ensure our customs and tradi-

tions are not forgotten. There is a lot more solidarity here because we are a minority population. We pray for everyone. We pray for peace in the world for everyone, be they Muslim or non-Muslim. There will be comfort for everyone once there is peace in the world. We wish for comfort upon everyone, not just Muslims.

It is a lot of fun. For the days to be long really brings something else to it. The cooler weather means we can do the evening prayers between nine and half past nine and the morning prayer after one o’clock. It completes our prayers within a 4-5 hour window. This makes it quite special and different; you don’t get anything like that anywhere else in the world, just here in Britain. Another thing about Ramadan is that you have the joy of spending time with family and friends. We do not exaggerate our iftar meals: what we have on the table is what we have there at just about any other time of year. I don’t think it is right to exaggerate iftar meals and turn them into luxuries. If you really want to spend money, there are poor people in need in many parts of the world. You can send it to them.

The adhan is the Islamic call to worship, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day. It is called out by a muezzin from the mosque five times a day, traditionally from the minaret, summoning Muslims for mandatory worship. The main purpose behind the multiple loud pronouncements of adhan in every mosque is to make available to everyone an easily intelligible summary of Islamic belief. In modern times, loudspeakers have been installed on minarets for this purpose.

Londra Ramadan |

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What is Ramadan like

in Britain? Better than Turkey I went to two years ago to spend Ramadan in Turkey, but it was a big disappointment – it felt like there was nothing special about it. They were spending it as if it was just a regular day. I don’t go to Turkey for Ramadan any more. I spend it here with my friends instead. We do not sleep so that we can hear a full reading of the Quran – but I did not see a similar excitement among ladies in Turkey. Our children here are always excited because they get to wake up early for sahur, keep a fast and attend iftar, but this atmosphere just didn’t exist in Turkey. They just see

Merve Sahin Housewife

it like a regular day and iftar like a regular meal. We enjoy Ramadan in Britain far more than they do back in our home country. We are always so happy when Kadir Gecesi (Laylat al-Qadr, the night on which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad) comes about – the mosques are full to burst. But in Turkey, when I say “let’s go to the mosque”, they say “we’ll read it all at home”. But more people are excited now over there when it is the New Year approaching.

I miss the Turkish style of Ramadan I was born and raised in London. I have spent Ramadan in Turkey a few times in the past and found that their Ramadans are better. For example, everyone fasts over there. Everyone is caught up in the worry of cooking an evening meal for iftar. It’s more fun. In Turkey, people wait at the table for the evening prayer to be read out. In London, there is no adhan. And people struggle with being apart from the families they left back in Turkey. Perhaps it doesn’t bother them at other times, but some people struggle when they have to break their fast alone. Ramadan means family and coming together – that’s the whole point. We keep a fast in so that we can understand the trials and diffi-

Iftar

Arabic: ‫راطفإ‬ Turkish: Iftar

Londra Ramadan |

culties of others. Another problem is that there is no tahini pie or special Ramadan bread, or egg-based pastries. I have happy memories of waiting in the queue for egg pastries in Turkey, but we can’t find it in Turkey. There is no Ramadan atmosphere in London, but we try to bring it alive within our own means. We meet at the Suleymaniye Cultural Centre and begin our iftar meal together, once the adhan is read there. We recreate a Ramadan atmosphere together. I like breaking my fast with the adhan. But there is no drummer who wakes us up ahead of sahur in the mornings, nor are there any mass iftar tents.

Gülay Sasmaz Literature teacher

Ökkes Babir Gıda Sektörü

Passing the culture onto our children We fondly remember the days of Ramadan from Turkey. We are missing many things here, but we try to gather together at iftar tables using what means and resources we have. We do our best to practice our traditions and beliefs. We experience the delightful conversation of Ramadan among family and friends, both at iftari and in the mornings for sahur. We teach our children about the culture – they do classes put on by the congregation. We teach them Ramadan, the concept of fasting and the Eid festival that follows it.

Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. As one of the religious observances of Ramadan, it is often done as a community, with people gathering to break their fast together. Iftar is taken after prayers around sunset. Traditionally, three dates are eaten to break the fast in emulation of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, who broke his fast in this manner. Many Muslims believe that feeding someone iftar as a form of charity is very rewarding and that such was practised by the Prophet Muhammad.

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What is Ramadan like

in Britain? Reading the Quran everywhere We experience Ramadan more here. When the readings finish at one friend’s home, we go to another friend’s home and do another Quran reading there. We do this at tens of different homes. We do this far more in London than we do in Turkey. Every night we pool our money together to hold an iftar meal at the mosque. Sometimes we even do the morning sahur meal at the mosque. Ramadan is really quite wonderful here.

Ayse Köker Housewife

Our iftars are not luxurious affairs

We bring the spirit of Aksaray to London Ramadan here is super. The morning sahur finishes at 1am and it is not until 9pm the following evening that we can have an iftar at the mosque and drink our tea and coffee. That is followed by the night-time prayer – it means we almost cannot make it in time for the next sahur! We are from Aksaray in central Turkey. We ensure that Aksaray’s culture is well-represented in Turkey.

Muezzin

Arabic: ‫نذؤم‬

Turkish: müezzin

10 Londra Ramadan |

Ahmet Çolak Works in the food sector

Refik Sasmaz Works in the food sector

Ramadan is spent in a particularly active manner in this country. I spend some of my time volunteering at the mosque. What with prayers and iftar meals and reciprocal visits it is a very busy time. Our iftars are not luxurious, but every family projects the food of their own home towns onto the table. Ramadan is a month of disciplining our nafs psyche.

A muezzin is the person appointed at a mosque to lead, and recite, the call to prayer for every event of prayer and worship in the mosque. The muezzin’s post is an important one, as he is the one responsible for each call to prayer. The community depends on him for accurate prayer schedules.

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One of London’s largest mosques hosts

10,000 people at iftar Akif Çulhaoglu from the Süleymaniye Cultural Centre tells us about the thousands of people who break their fast together, and the many generous donations they receive

By Yasemin Bakan

hen was the Süleymaniye cultural centre and mosque established? We are officially known as the Turkish Islamic Cultural Centre Foundation of Britain. This first started out with the Valide Sultan Mosque in Newington Green, but when space became insufficient the idea was thrown out to build a mosque. Construction for the Süleymaniye Mosque began in 1994 and opened five years later. Our foundation has 16 branches across Britain and it operates both as a mosque as a centre for education. How many people can simultaneously attend worship at the Süleymaniye mosque? 1500. Our third and fourth floors are used for boarding and residential purposes. We also have a school in Surrey Quays, just south of the river. During the day our children go to school there and in the evening they come and sleep here. They dine here. The school has a capacity of 120. Of the students, 85 are middle

Quran

Arabic: ‫نآرقلا‬

Turkish: Kuran

Londra Ramadan |

Akif Çulhaoğlu

schoolers while 25 go to college. This figure is rising by the year as new students join us. AT YOUR SERVICE, FROM BIRTH TO DEATH What services does the Süleymaniye mosque offer? The mosque has all manner of services from birth until death. When children are born, they come here and named, and the adhan is read into their ear. When they reach the age of five or six they come to the mosque to learn about their religion. They also learn Turkish, because we have Turkish classes here. We offer supplementary classes in

mathematics and science. We also teach national cultural and religious values. These children then grow up and reach the age of marriage, and we marry them. Our mosque has the official authority to wed couples, just like churches. Not every mosque has this authority, but ours does. Couples can get married at the Süleymaniye Mosque once they have presented notice of their intention to wed at the local council. We also offer circumcision, funerals and other special services. We serve all members of the community – both those who will be buried here, and those who will be sent to Turkey for burial. We have a funeral

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God. Muslims believe the Quran was verbally revealed by God to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel gradually over a period of approximately 23 years. Muslims regard the Quran as the most important miracle of Muhammad, a proof of his prophethood, and the

JUNE 2015

fund to which congregation members become a member: when they pass away, their funeral expenses are paid outo f this fund. In addition to all these, we do festivals and campaigns to educate youths and community elders. You can call the mosque not just a community centre but a place where people can come to chat and share troubles. What do you at Ramadan? Every evening during Ramadan we put on iftar meals. We host around 300 people each night, both men and women. We supplement these with iftar programmes of events, including Quran readings.

culmination of a series of divine messages that started with the messages revealed to Adam and ended with Muhammad. They consider the Quran to be the only revealed book that has been protected by God from distortion or corruption. Quranic chapters are called suras and verses are called ayahs.

We try to make the most of the month of Ramadan. The iftar table is open to everyone: we follow the “guest of God” principle, meaning all are welcome. We do not turn away anyone who comes to our door. Who provides the iftars? We have benefactors who provide these. The person who hosts the iftar will tend to invite people from their immediate network of family and friends. These are supplement by our students and anyone else who happens to be fasting. Do you only provide iftar meals to Muslims from Turkey? No. It is a good deed to share your iftar. We regard anyone who fasts to be a Muslim – we do not discriminate based on which country they come from. Our table is open to everyone. Sometimes people who do not fast want to join our table and we happily invite them. Even when it is hugely busy we do not send anyone away without offering them food. What would you say regarding zakat and sadaqah offerings? We redirect the zakat and sadaqah offerings we receive to those in need. We have fund where we collect all the zakat, which is used for the benefit of our students. And this is not just in Britain: there are those in other countries too. Besides this, we try to ensure the zakat is also sent to people in need in different countries. The categories into which zakat should be divided has already been clearly defined: the poor, the infirm, followers of the Quran. We try to reach them all. Do you find Ramadan in Britain is different to Ramadan back in Turkey? Of course Ramadan in Turkey is different. You see notices everywhere that say “Welcome Ramdan”. Everyone rushes to home in time for iftar. We cannot quite find this atmosphere in Britain but we do try to recreate it within our community. We come together with our family and friends to do this.

Eid al-Fitr

Arabic: ‫رطفلا ديع‬ Turkish: Ramazan/ Seker Bayramı

Süleymaniye mosque in Dalston is one of the few in Britain to have its own minaret

In Turkey, for example, it is common to open tents where mass iftar meals are served. What we do in Süleymaniye is essentially an iftar tent of sorts. The practice of offering iftar to people passing by, to people who we do not even know, replicates that iftar tent culture in one way. We organise special readings and events to try and bring Ramadan alive away from our home country, but of course it is not the same as a Muslim country where everyone waits in anticipation for the iftar moment. Another factor are the long daylight hours in Ramadan, which means a longer fast. But despite all these we try to recreate the Turkish Ramadan culture here. Do you have any special events planned for this Ramadan? We have some mosques that have newly opened outside of London. These are places we have never been to before. There will be some

programmed events held for Turks living in these areas. They will undertake Ramadan’s traditional rituals – and we of course aim for a wider participation in this year’s iftars. MORE PEOPLE HOSTING IFTARS AT THE MOSQUE How many people can you host at an iftar here? We are 150 people together with our students and personnel. But we can host up to 300. What steps does a benefactor need to follow to host an iftar at Süleymaniye? We have a daily expense. We split this into three or four, meaning one person provides an iftar for around 300 people. This person then brings their own guests and that makes for the iftar. We make an announcement during the evening to indicate who was generous enough to host the iftar. It works for the benefactor too: rather than hosting an iftar at home, where

An important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan. The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. It is customary to acknowledge this with a small sweet breakfast, preferably including date or fruit, before attending a special Eid prayer.

they could probably feed 10 people, they can host 300 people here. The benefactor provides an iftar not just for our students and his own guests, but all visitors of God. What is the Süleymaniye mosque’s Ramadan message? Ramadan is the sultan of the eleven months, a time when morale peaks and grace is extensive. People should forgive themselves and ill feelings dispersed, God willing. May it bring health, peace, comfort and happiness to all. The Süleymaniye Cultural Centre is based in the North London district of Dalston, halfway between Haggerston and Hoxton stations on London Overground. Address: 212-216 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London, E2 8AX Telephone: 020 7684 9900 Fax: 020 7749 4066 Email: info@Süleymaniye.org Web: www.Süleymaniye.org

As an obligatory act of charity, often in the form of money, is paid to the poor and the needy. Many practicing Muslims wake up early in the morning, before sunrise, and clean their teeth with a toothbrush, take a shower before prayers, put on new clothes and apply perfume, in keeping with the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.

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| Londra Ramadan

From Aytaç Foods

A taste for everyone Aytaç currently controls a distribution network that extends to three million Muslims that live across Britain.

have seen considerable interest so far. The London-based firm has also drawn attention through its recent activity in the sector, where many firms have been merged or even bought outright. The Manchester-based Monalisa firm was bought out by Aytaç in 2012, while last year the firm added the well-established confectionary company Jellyman into its midst. Jellyman is known for its halal food products and is expected to appeal to a wide market with Aytaç’s “Confectionary World” brand. Jellyman itself has Bangladeshi roots and its purchase represents Aytaç’s move to appeal to Britain’s Asian Muslim community, perhaps the oldest and most populous in the country.

ytaç Foods has become of the biggest players in the British ethnic foods market since it first entered the market 14 years ago, with an appeal that extends beyond the Turkish-speaking populations of London. Founded by Recep Ercan, who has many long years of experience in the food market, the firm took it first steps by introducing Turkish products to an eager overseas audience. Today, Aytaç Foods has become a food giant in around 30 countries with some unique products in its portfolio. From grains and pulses to decorative products, and from sweets to spices, the firm presents hundreds of products under around 35 brands to consumers. Its portfolio extends to olives and yoghurts which appeal not just to Turkish and Cypriot consumers wanting a taste of homes, but to customers from other ethnicities as well. In addition to the Aytaç brand, brands like Aycan, Aynoor and Anur have started to attract considerable recognition in ethnic markets and one of the most trusted names in the halal foods sector. Aytaç currently controls a distribution network that extends to three million Muslims that live across Britain. NEW PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM Aytaç makes its products at ded-

Laylat al-Qadr Arabic: ‫ردقلا ةلیل‬ Turkish: Kuran

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Aytaç Foods chairman Recep Ercan

icated factories in Turkey, Britain and a number of other countries. As a firm that is renowned for its quality and variety, it is partially able to respond to demand from countries like France and Italy. In recent times Aytaç has broadened into the nuts and dry foods market. It produces its own yoghurt. It also has an ambitious confectionary section, with its rich choice of sweets and hors d’oeuvres.

The firm has strong ambitions of taking a leading role in the frozen foods market and is increasing its product volume in this regard. GROWTH SUSTAINED BY MERGERS AND BUYOUTS In response to customer demand, Aytaç Foods is also developing products that suit a more traditionally British pallet. These include specialised cheeses and biscuits and

The night in Islamic belief when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Its name means Night of Destiny or Night of Value in English, and generally takes place around the last ten days of Ramadan.

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LEADERSHIP IN TURKISH PRODUCTS Aytaç has taken yoghurt, one of the greatest Turkish gifts after Turkish delight to world cuisine, and is marketing it to the British market under the “Aynoor” brand. It aims to use its taste and its reasonable price to reshape yoghurt consumption habits. Despite the European Union’s intensive quota obstacles, Aytaç is able to work with Marmarabirlik, the world’s largest natural olive produce, to take some of the unique types of Turkish olive to the British market. “Let there be none left who doesn’t eat olives” is the brand used by the company as it markets the many different varieties, including olive oils, to consumers. The company’s principles are halal, clean and high quality products, built around the principle of fast, efficient service. Its pastries, nuts, chocolates, fish options, all packaged beautifully, are offered at reasonable prices for all.

Muslims believe that on this night, God blesses everyone, forgives all sins, grants all prayers, and angels come down to earth. Laylat al-Qadr in 2015 is on Monday 13 July, three days before the end of Ramadan.

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Watch what you eat at night

Ramadan means avoiding all food and drink under daylight, but that doesn’t mean you should gorge when the sun goes down

ach day before dawn, Muslims observe a prefast meal called sahur. After stopping a short time before dawn, Muslims begin the first prayer of the day, the Fajr prayer. At sunset, families hasten for the fast-breaking meal known as iftar. The iftar is often associated with some of the most lavish meals seen in Turkey and the Muslim world. The tables often groan under the weight of the delicious meat, savoury and olive oil dishes that large parties tuck into after sunset. But there’s an important warning from the experts: keep your feasts to a minimum – or you could end up putting on weight rather than losing it, and threaten your health in the process. Oxford anaesthetist Dr Razeen Mahroof says feasting during the non-fasting hours can be unhealthy. He recommends approaching the fast with discipline, or an opportunity to lose weight and be healthier could be wasted. “The underlying message behind Ramadan is self-discipline and self-control,” he says in literature from the National Health Service. “This shouldn’t fall apart at the end of the day”. Those observing the fast should have at least two meals a day, the

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pre-dawn meal (sahur) and a meal at dusk (iftar). CARBS AND FIBRES Dr Mahroof says your food intake should be simple and not differ too much from your normal diet. It should contain foods from all the major food groups. Complex carbohydrates are foods that help release energy slowly during the long hours of fasting. They are found in foods such as barley,

wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour and basmati rice. Fibre-rich foods are also digested slowly and include bran, cereals, whole wheat, grains and seeds, potatoes with the skin on, vegetables such as green beans, and almost all fruit, including apricots, prunes and figs. FEWER PROCESSED FOODS Foods to avoid are the heavily pro-

cessed, fast-burning foods that contain refined carbohydrates – such as sugar and white flour – as well as fatty food, which would include all manner of cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweets. It’s also worth avoiding caffeine-based drinks such as tea, coffee and cola. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it stimulates the faster loss of water through urination and other means.

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Ideas

for meals

hese healthy meal ideas from the NHS will give you a varied and balanced diet during Ramadan. The meal plan includes ingredients from the major five food groups and was written by medical experts in consultation with Islamic scholars. Try taking ideas for your meals from the following day plans. Fluids (water and juices) and dates should always be added to each sahur (predawn meal) and iftar (dinner – the meal which ends the day’s fast). The iftar is always broken with dates, followed by dinner.

What to eat over Ramadan

Day 1

Do eat...

• fruit and vegetables • bread, cereals and potatoes • meat, fish, or alternatives • milk and dairy foods • foods containing fat and sugar

Sahur: a bowl of porridge with milk, one slice of toast and a handful of unsalted nuts Iftar: pitta bread with chicken, salad and hummus and one or two pieces of baklava

Day 2 Sahur: wheat-based cereal with milk, a plain scone or crumpet and an apple or banana Iftar: chicken with boiled rice, vegetable curry and mixed salad, followed by fruit salad with single cream

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Doctors recommend keeping as much as possible to your regular diet and eating foods from all the major food groups.

Day 3

Day 4

Sahur: a bowl of shredded wheat or muesli and a pear or orange Iftar: baked fish with roasted vegetables, or fish curry with rice followed by sweet vermicelli or one piece of jalebi (an Indian sweet)

Sahur: cheese, then one teaspoon of jam with crackers or toast, and a handful of dried fruits Iftar: pasta cooked with vegetables and chicken or fish, and a slice of plain cake with custard

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Avoid...

• deep-fried foods • high-sugar and high-fat foods • high-fat cooked foods • excessive use of oil in cooking

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The new place to be in Stoke Newington

Aziziye Restaurant is at your service with its new decoration and rich menu

For the first timein London: Cağ Kebab

● Dine in traditional style on the floor ● Meat from Aziziye butchers ● All our products are halal certified

Address: 117 - 119 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BU - Tel: 020 7254 7475 22

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Once a cinema, now a mosque Ismail Çoban, a director at one of London’s largest Turkish religious foundations, reminds us that a mosque is not just for Ramadan any other than God and to be satisfied within, and to treat everyone in the community equally.

By Yasemin Bakan When was Aziziye Mosque first opened? Our mosque has a thirty-year history and it the largest and oldest mosque belonging to the Turkish community. This building was originally a cinema but starting in 1990 it was gradually converted into its present state. We do have officials here from the Department for Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in Turkey, but this are an independent mosque connected to that department. As we are Diyanet staff and are only temporarily posted to this country, we can only relate what was told to us – the man who knows the most about this mosque is Fahri Baltan, whose name is effectively remembered in tandem with Aziziye. What kind of services does the mosque offer? The mosque is open from 11am until after the final prayers at night, meaning it is possible to pray here five times a day. We offer Quran classes on Tuesdays for adults and on Wednesdays for younger people. Commentary sessions on the Quran are offered by us every Friday night beginning at 7pm.

At the weekend, between 11am and 3.30pm, Diyanet officials teach children on a wide range of subjects from the Quran and religious information to Turkish language and culture. We also offer Quran classes for ladies with female tutors – these happen on Tuesdays and weekends – as well as marriage ceremonies that are recognised by the authorities in this country, and programmes to allow congregants to go on the Hajj. What are Aziziye’s plans for

Ramadan? With the arrival of Ramadan, we are offering Quran readings and interpretative sessions after afternoon prayers at 1.45pm. There are further prayers in the evenings after the night-time adhan. What responsibilities do Imams have? Men of religion are guides to the true and beautiful. Their first duty is to behave in a manner that befits their office and to practice what they preach. They must be a person who has no expectation from

MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD PRAY TOGETHER Is there a reason why women tend to go to mosque in fewer numbers than men? It is certainly true that women tend to be given a far smaller space than men for worship as mosques are being constructed. It is an undeniable truth that we have pushed women from the atmosphere, congregation and an ability to acquire true and firm information about religion – this is a negative legacy of our history. But beyond this there is an undeniable truth that women, with housework and raising children, do not always find the time to join the congregation. Today we have women who work in all aspects of life. In what circumstances does one abstain from fasting during Ramadan? The main reasons are firstly, illness that presents fasting, and second, if you are travelling a long distance, but this second reason is qualified by adding that “fasting is always more beneficial”. This

What invalidates a fast? 1. Swallowing any substance: cotton, paper, an olive seed, a large quantity of salt etc. 2. Taking medicine through the nose; 3. The dye from any thread that is taken in the mouth;

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4. Involuntarily swallowing snow or rain (voluntarily swallowing it requires a penance); 5. Swallowing any morsel of food left between the teeth as large as a chickpea; 6. Accidentally swallowing any

water while doing your pre-prayer ablutions; 7. When, after accidentally eating or drinking during daylight hours, assuming your fast is invalid and continuing to eat; 8. Voluntarily inhaling smoke;

9. Breaking your fast after mistakenly assuming the sun has already set; 10. Continuing to eat after sunrise.

means that Muslims should try as much as possible to fast rather than find reasons not to. Anyone who feels they have a reason not to fast should consult a learned person.

Aziziye Mosque’s Ramadan message

What about during air travel? There are exceptions for people travelling exceptionally long distances but, as I mentioned already, the teachings of Islam should be kept in mind. This can be useful on occasions when, for example, one is taking an intercontinental flight.

or all our brothers and sisters working away from their home country to earn a living for their families: we request from our Supreme Maker that achieve success in business, lawful earnings, comfort in their homes and a healthy month of Ramadan. The greatest decoration of any mosque is its people: with this in mind, we call on all believers to honour us with their presence both during the month of Ramadan and at all other times. My thanks to you and your organisation for giving us this opportunity to reach out to the community and wish everyone in the community a very happy and prosperous Eid holiday.

People always ask when Ramadan falls in the summer months: can one swim in the sea while fasting? Swimming in the sea will not invalidate one’s fast but given there is a risk of water escaping down one’s throat, it is not recommended. Invalidating your fast for a little bit of fun does not suit good Muslim brothers and sisters. The Aziziye Mosque is based in the North London district of Stoke Newington, near Rectory Road station on London Overground. Address: 117 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 8BU Telephone: 020 7254 0046 Email: enquiries@aziziye.org.uk Web: www.aziziye.org.uk

Make-up days When Muslims fail to complete their prescribed days of fast, they must make up for them later in the year If a day of fasting during Ramadan is invalidated for whatever reason, Muslims must compensate for that day with an additional day of fasting before the arrival of the next month of Ramadan. It is permissible for him to delay his fast until Sha’baan, which is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar and the one that directly precedes Ramadan. If, however, the following Ramadan arrives and he still has not made up the (missed) days without (a valid) reason, then he has committed a sin.

He must therefore make up those days along with feeding a poor person for every day (he has to make up) as this is what the group of companions of the Prophet Muhammad had ruled with. As for he who had a valid excuse for delaying in making up the fasts, because of illness or travel, then he has to make up the days missed only and he does not have to feed any poor people. MEDICINES Ismail Çoban reminds us that

a fast is invalidated with any manner of food, drink and sexual intercourse, but that medicine does not invalidate a fast provided it does not have any nutritional value. Nonetheless, many Muslims prefer to keep on the safe side by having their injections after the iftar evening fast. Those who do not have this opportunity can take their treatment during the day, but will have to make up for the missed days later on. Make-up days are required after drip treatment, vitamin shots and blood transfu-

sions. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES Dental treatment – either with or without morphine – does not invalidate a fast, but swallowing blood or any of the substances used during the treatment would require a repeat. Mr Çoban lists the other circumstances that require a make-up day as follows: extensive travel; long-term illness; eating or drinking without awareness of one’s actions; and involuntary consumption of substances.

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This is a month of

Grace, Abundance and Pardon

e asked Mahmut Özdemir, Turkey’s religious affairs attaché for the UK, some burning questions about Ramadan. By Yasemin Bakan What is fasting? One of the duties of our religion is to keep a fast during the month of Ramadan. Fasting involves abstaining from food, water and sexual relations from the moment of morning prayers at sunrise until the sun sets in the evening. The basic objective of fasting is to raise individuals to a level where they become aware of their responsibilities towards God and his subjects. This is outlined in the Quran through this phrase: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard [against evil].” What invalidates a fast? The basic principle of the fast is to keep away from eating, drinking and sexual relations and deprive the nafs of these things. Therefore, these and behaviour that comes to resemble these will invalidate a fast. Eating and drinking encompasses everything that is considered normal to eat. Cigarettes, shisha pipes and other recreational tobacco products, as well as drugs and other addictive substances are all banned during this month. Any oral medicines – whatever the reason – are similarly restricted, but eye drops, nose drops and pills taken below the tongue do not invalidate a fast. What about dental treatment? Does that invalidate one’s fast? The fast of an individual receiving dental treatment, with or without morphine, would not be invalidated as a result of that treatment. But if they swallow blood or any of the substances used during the treatment, that would invalidate it. And brushing teeth – particularly to block out any mouth odours. What is the position on fasting there? Brushing teeth does not invalidate

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Mahmut Özdemir, Turkey’s religious affairs attaché for the UK

one’s fast. Having said that, if any toothpaste or water escapes down the throat, that would invalidate the fast and require an additional day of fasting to make up for it. That is why, considering this risk of annulling your fast, it is best to brush teeth before morning prayers and after the evening iftar meal. Is it possible to fast by sleeping all day? For a fast to be valid, it is vital that a person intends to fast and avoids things that could invalidate that fast. Sleeping a little or a lot during daylight hours does not harm the validity of that fast. Having said that, keeping away from the difficulties that fasting introduces and to sleep for long hours during the daytime in Ramadan does not reconcile with the philosophy and meaning of fasting. Such actions, however, do not invalidate the fast. How should the iftar table be set? The iftar table should be laid such so that those people eating are left

satisfied. Excesses should be avoided. That is to say, our iftar meals should not become meals of waste. What would you say regarding zakat and sadaqah offerings? One of the most attractive aspects of the month of Ramadan is its financial aid and solidarity aspect. One of the tasks that we should not be forgetting is sadaqah, also known as “fitre” in Turkish. Fitre is a type of sadaqah that must be offered the poor at any point during Ramadan before Eid festival prayers at the end of the month. It may be seen as basic and little but fitre raises the morale of the poor and allows them to experience the joy of the post-Ramadan festival. It is not a particularly large amount: for a person living in Britain, for example, it is £10 per head. It should not be less than this, but anyone who wishes can give more. It is not much as an amount but it is a contribution that allows the poor to experience the joy of festival with the same happiness as other people. Ramadan is a month when zakat

and sadaqah are both offered. People strive during this month to engage in more goodwill and charitable activities, and help the poor and destitute. A person who spends the whole day fasting will think of their neighbours, relatives, the poor and the less fortunate at these moments. That is why, in one sense, the month of Ramadan can be seen as a month of philanthropy and good will. If I was to put it another way: Ramadan is the month when the most aid and charity is handed out. Does Ramadan have a positive effect on family, relatives and social relations? Of course there is a social perspective to the month of Ramadan. Social relations are where humanity experiences the most problems today, just as was the case yesterday. Love, respect and goodwill are most important in relations between people, particularly in communal life. These values I just mentioned are the main peoples of serenity, trust and peace. Life is more comfortable and secure in social environments where

these values are strong. Where such values are weak, life is uncomfortable, insecure and uneasy. That is why we need spiritual environments like Ramadan: they help create a more comfortable social environment. The Ramadan atmosphere allows people to rein in their nafs, to mellow, and to behave within the context of ethical values. For this reason we should use religious days, religious nights and religious festivals to strengthen our bonds with relatives and friends. What is it like to experience Ramadan away from your home country? We need to think about this concept of “being away from home”. Of course nothing compares to one’s home country: one misses it if they are apart from it for too long. But the world has become so much smaller today. Transport and communication are not as difficult as once they were. In addition, our citizens are very good as making a home of the countries in which they live – they are successful at this. They open mosques, foundations and charities. Within ourselves we establish a social liveliness that closely resembles the atmosphere back home. The month of Ramadan is equally

active in this regard. The Quran is read out loud in the mosques, tarawih is read out and iftar evening meals held to break the fast. This level of activity in our mosques effectively takes us back to the Ramadan months we lived back in our home country. Does one need to be self-sufficient and content during Ramadan? There are truly many benefits to keeping the fast. One of the positive emotions it provokes among us is the concept of kanaat [the Turkish word for ‘contentedness’]. Worship through fasting strengthens this sense of kanaat, because an individual who is hungry has a better understanding of the deprived and the needy. That person becomes unable to waste. Our prophet’s description of kanaat as a limitless treasure is important for this reason. Greed leads to destitution, but kanaat leads to grace. The prophet said that he who economises will not struggle to live. Of course, achieving kanaat does not mean turning one’s back on the world. Muslims must follow this but most also be headstrong when it comes to the property of the world. But Muslims must be both spiritually and physically strong, and not dependent upon anyone.

The Turkish Religious Foundation building in Hornsey

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