This month’s special: The early bird menu

In America when traveling around the country you learn which restaurants offer a special price on a full breakfast -- these are often called “early bird specials.”

In Turkey during Ramadan, people who are fasting get up early before the break of dawn for a meal called “sahur,” a type of early bird breakfast eaten at home. In certain parts of the cities where the buildings are not as solidly built, you may hear through the walls the sounds of your neighbor’s alarm clock going off and someone in the kitchen opening and closing cupboards and getting plates, pots and pans out to make breakfast.

The women in the household prepare bread, fresh fruit and vegetables and warm up the leftovers from the heavy meal from the evening before to serve at breakfast. Anyone who keeps the fast will eat heartily now because they are storing up for the long day without food or water. Food must be eaten quickly before the break of dawn.

The origin of the drummer tradition to wake people comes from before homes had alarm clocks; it was a way to wake people up so they could have a meal before the fast for the day started. At the end of the month the drummers ring every doorbell expecting to get a tip. When I lived in Salacak-Üsküdar, a more conservative Muslim neighborhood, many residents in my building kept the fast, but I was surprised when some of them complained that they did not appreciate the drummer because he woke them up too early.

Some Today’s Zaman readers have asked me a few questions: Why do Muslims keep the fast? Should we drink tea if it is offered -- or offer tea to our guests?

An observant Muslim will not let anything pass their lips from the break of dawn until sunset. Keeping the fast during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam -- the things Muslims believe God requires all believers to do. Ramadan is treated as a time of reflection and spiritual discipline, for awareness of human fragility and remembering and responding to the needs of the poor.

Many people consider that the importance of Ramadan is the “niyet” principle (niyet means intention). The Muslim decides whether he is going to fast or not and then makes a promise to God about it. Some people fast the whole month; some fast just one or two days (this will often include the day of Kadir Gecesi -- the Night of Power, which falls near the end of Ramadan). The important thing is to keep your promise to God.

People who are sick, traveling, the elderly and children do not have to fast.

Some Turks do not fast, but they try to avoid alcohol, discos and nightclubs during the holy month.

How do you know if someone is fasting? Just ask, “Niyetli misiniz?” (Literally: Do you have an intention?) They may say yes, or reply “niyetliyim,” meaning “I have an intention (to complete the fast).” The correct reply to this is “Allah kabul etsin” -- may God accept it (from you). If someone isn’t fasting, then feel free to offer them a drink or snack in the way you normally would.

It is not unusual if you are visiting someone that your host may offer you a drink even though they are fasting. Foreigners are not expected to observe Ramadan customs. If they offer you a drink, they will not think it inconsiderate of you to accept.

In a business setting, you may find that half the attendees at a meeting are fasting and refuse coffee and the other half are not and drink it -- encouraged to do so by the gracious attitude of those fasting.

In Turkey work basically goes on as usual during the day. However, if someone is hungry or has not had a cigarette all day, it is easier for them to be irritable and impatient. Statistics reveal more car accidents occur during Ramadan!