Call to prayer, Catalkoy

[Makum]

Is it my imagination or is the speaker volume being wound up at the local mosque,no qualms about the mosque having a wail, but why full bore at 4.30 am , I'm sure if I was blasting out God save the Queen at this time I would have a que of the local plod at the door. Is their any need for it, or is it a sign of fundamental Islam creeping into this once sleepy hollow, or the precursor for the muctars brother opening a shop selling ear defenders.
Makum

[PoshinDevon]

Pretty sure the call to prayer happens 6 times a day. The first call ( Imsak ) happens 2 hours before dawn - when it is dark to awaken the faithful to prayer.

Maybe it sounds a little louder because at this time of the day there is little traffic or other daytime noises.

Here in the UK living in a small Devon villlage there are people who "pop" down for the weekend from the big city whomhave a moan when the bell ringers in the church are practising or when the bells are rung on a Sunday.

Personally we love hearing the call to prayer, it makes us feel we are in a different country with its own culture and traditions.

[kedikat2903]

Happens 5 times a day. I too like hearing it. Close your windows if you don't.

[journey1]

A wonderful sound in my opinion and I totally respect it.
I choose to spend time here and in doing so fully accept that the call to prayer is a core part of the religious practice of this country.
For me its a part of the magic of being in a different culture from my own.

[Makum]

Not saying that it should be stopped , I'm about a mile away and it s loud,so has to be a pain for folk in the immediate vicinity, why have it on loud speakers never used to be,can't see many using the mosque at 4.30am anyway most of the locals are still in the casinos.

[mimi78]

Dear Makum , A slight correction needed. locals will not be in the Casino at 4.30 am , or any other time come to that , we are banned . Casino use is only for foreigners.

[snd1966]

Dear Makum , A slight correction needed. locals will not be in the Casino at 4.30 am , or any other time come to that , we are banned . Casino use is only for foreigners.

and I understand this also includes legal workers and residents!

Love the calls to pray, it reminds me I am living my dream
plus - wake up - lunch - almost time to finish work - finished work and nearly time for bed.

[Deniz1]

I know loads of Cypriots who regularly go to casinos legal or not.

[Makum]

Funny you should say that Deniz, I see loads of them as well , and in the clubs on the Nicosia road, but of course prostitution, human trafficking , and slavery is ok here

[sophie]

The most amazing time to hear the call to prayer (as far as I'm concerned that is) is to be in Istanbul high up in the grounds of the largest mosque, the Suleymaniye when it starts, then seconds after you can hear dozens of others bursting forth. The sound surrounds you from both sides of the river and sends shivers up your back. It really is truly amazing. You don't have to be a believer to appreciate it!!

[dippersgirl]

It is five times here, they do not do the one before sunrise. I like hearing it, less noisy that hearing all the bells when you live in a town like Cologne, so many bells in each church, calling for every service(mostly Catholic) and all the clocks doing quarter and half hour as well. The bells in Dipkarpaz are quite moderate, a bit tinny, rung on Sundays and funerals and special services (2 churches with a bell each.)

[elizabeth]

Funny you should say that Deniz, I see loads of them as well , and in the clubs on the Nicosia road, but of course prostitution, human trafficking , and slavery is ok here

Totally uncalled for remarks and highly offensive too, we are guests in this country and should not forget that fact.

[mimi78]

Thank you Elizabeth.

[jen]

Makum, with respect, why exactly are you here ?

[Panchocat]

The Catalkoy mosque is very loud and has been for the last couple of years. The radio pips and squeaks before and after the call are loud too.
We live directly below the mosque and in the summer outside conversation has to pause for the duration of the call as it is deafening.
We accept the call as being part of the culture and part of the joy of living here. When inside the call is background noise to daily life.
However some of my Cypriot neighbours as well as British neighbours went to Mukhtar Ralf, when he was alive, to ask if anything could be done about the volume. He agreed it was very loud and was looking into what could be done......
The volume could be reduced as there are other mosques in the area at Catalkoy, by the beach and now at Dogankoy.
My Cypriot neighbour when the mosque is so loud says, and I quote, "We all have watches these days we don't need this loud call."
We don't wish the call to stop but we do question why the volume has to be so high.

[Makum]

Probably like you Jen spending my final few years enjoying a tranquil
Life while I wait for God, and for you Elizabeth I fully agree we are guests here , but that does not me we have to condone what is morally wrong, not unless of course you agree with mass corruption, people trafficking prostitution and slavery, I don't, their are non so blind as those who do not want to see, suggest you put your GnT down and open your eyes.

[BLUE BUTTERFLY]

Not saying that it should be stopped , I'm about a mile away and it s loud,so has to be a pain for folk in the immediate vicinity, why have it on loud speakers never used to be,can't see many using the mosque at 4.30am anyway most of the locals are still in the casinos.

When you say ''most of the locals'' I presume you mean the local Cypriots. If you knew the facts then you would know that very few village Turkish Cypriots go to the mosque or to the casinos.

My TC hubby goes to the mosque for funerals only and, being working class, cannot afford the casinos.

He starts work early in the morning and goes to bed at a reasonable time, because he works hard through the day he generally sleeps through the sound of the drunken expats pouring out of the local restaurant next door, shouting and laughing loudly and slamming car doors sometimes until 1am.

If their noise wakes him he tolerates it, that's life.

Toleration should work both ways.

We live in a Muslim country, were you not aware of that when you came to live here?

Personally, I love the sound of the call to prayer.

[Makum]

Blue butterfly, in my view a local is not only a TC,I would also include your mainland saviours as local as most of them by fair means or foul are citizens of this country, and are now probably greater in number . I would agree TCs seem to keep away from casinos and seem not to follow the more hard line religios types, begs the question, why have a call to prayer if nobody turns up, and is that why the volume is being cranked up in the hope a follower s conscience may be pricked so he can pop out at 4.30 am and kick his flip flops off.

[elizabeth]

Probably like you Jen spending my final few years enjoying a tranquil
Life while I wait for God, and for you Elizabeth I fully agree we are guests here , but that does not me we have to condone what is morally wrong, not unless of course you agree with mass corruption, people trafficking prostitution and slavery, I don't, their are non so blind as those who do not want to see, suggest you put your GnT down and open your eyes.

I find your personal remarks uncalled for and offensive too, again because someone challenges your views people like you have to sink to a lower level and resort to insults.
I have lived here for many years and see much that is wrong, insulting the country and it,s people will not bring about change.

[Makum]

Elizabeth , it's not a view it's a fact, if you don't want to see it turn a blind eye and pretend all is wonderfull, can't see how I insulted you but in your world you obviously see things a little different to the real world , have a nice day, hic

[PoshinDevon]

This thread is supposed to be about the call to prayer, not gambling, human trafficking or prostitution. Post is going nowhere and is now locked.

The call to prayer is part of the way of life living in North Cyprus and should be respected by all.