Islam has a long and rich history in Turkey. Today, around 99% of Turkey’s population identifies as Muslim, but when did this country officially turn to Islam? The transition was gradual, occurring over centuries as various Islamic empires rose to power in the region.
The Early Days of Islam in Turkey
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The presence of Islam in what is now Turkey grew starting in the 11th century as the Seljuk Turks expanded their territory into eastern Anatolia.
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The Seljuks were a Turkic people who followed Sunni Islam and established an empire across much of the Middle East
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As the Seljuk Empire grew, so did the presence of Islam in Anatolia The Seljuks battled the Byzantine Empire for control of this area
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A major turning point occurred at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. The Seljuks defeated the Byzantines, paving the way for further expansion of their empire and influence in Anatolia.
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Following the decline of the Seljuk Empire in the late 12th century, Anatolia was controlled by various smaller Turkic and Islamic states.
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The presence of Islam continued to grow in the region during this period.
The Rise of the Ottoman Empire
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In 1299, the Ottoman Empire emerged as a small principality in northwest Anatolia. It began expanding quickly.
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Under the Ottoman sultans, Islam became fully entrenched as the dominant religion in Anatolia and southeastern Europe.
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In 1453, the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This marked the end of Byzantine power.
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The Ottomans made Constantinople their new capital, renaming it Istanbul. The famous Hagia Sophia church was converted into a mosque.
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The fall of Constantinople was a major symbolic triumph for Islam over Christianity in the region.
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In the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire expanded to its peak, controlling a vast area spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and southeastern Europe.
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The Ottoman rulers assumed the title of caliph, claiming leadership of the Islamic world. Islam was firmly established as the official religion of the empire.
Secularization Under Atatürk
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The Ottoman Empire began declining in the late 18th century. Following World War I, the empire fell.
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In 1922, Turkish nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk overthrew the Ottoman sultanate and established the Republic of Turkey.
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Under Atatürk, Turkey underwent a process of rapid secularization aimed at establishing a modern nation-state.
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Islamic institutions like the caliphate were abolished. The role of religion in public life was limited.
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However, the population remained predominantly Sunni Muslim. Islam endured as the main religion.
Islam in Modern Turkey
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Today, an estimated 90-95% of Turkey’s population is Muslim, primarily Sunni. This indicates that Islam is deeply-rooted in Turkish society.
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Islamist parties have risen to prominence. Religious education expanded. Mosque construction surged.
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However, Turkey’s secular laws and institutions also remain in place. Its society incorporates both secular and Islamic elements.
Muslim practices in Turkey
The most prevalent form of Islam practiced in Turkey is Sunni Islam — another departure from neighboring countries where most people adhere to Shia Islam. Turkey is also known for its Sufi community, an Islamic mystic tradition associated with the city of Konya and the poet Rumi.
Devotees, known in the West as “whirling dervishes” use a spinning movement to deepen their spiritual connection. Some groups provide demonstrations where visitors can observe this tradition in person.
It’s good to know the roots of religious traditions but, ultimately, Özkan cautions against putting too much emphasis on the different titles and sects of Islam, which the Prophet Mohammed never mentioned and are not in the Koran.
Call to prayer in Turkey
One way that observant Muslims show their devotion is by praying throughout the day.
In every Turkish city, the call to prayer reverberates from mosque speakers five times daily, announcing central tenets of the Islamic faith and reminding Muslims to pray. The first one takes place before sunrise and admonishes the faithful to remember that “prayer is better than sleep.”
When they hear the call, practicing Muslims stop what they’re doing, kneel facing Mecca, and pray. Non-Muslims are not expected to partake in this, but there is some etiquette you should practice when you encounter others who do:
- Avoid standing in front of anyone who is praying
- Stay silent during the call
- Give worshippers their space and refrain from taking pictures of them.
Ramadan, called Ramazan in Turkey, is a month-long period of fasting that Muslims around the world observe each year, usually in May and June. (The actual dates vary according to the Islamic lunar calendar.) Participants eschew food and beverages — this includes water — from sunrise to sunset, breaking their daily fast with a celebratory meal, or iftar.
Taking part in the fast “is a kind of praying,” explains Özkan, and people who do are intentionally “kind of starving” as a way to build empathy. “They are trying to understand what poor people feel. Otherwise, how can we understand that?”
No one expects visiting foreigners to fast – many Turks don’t. But if, during Ramadan, you happen to be traveling in any Muslim country — or even a predominantly Muslim community or neighborhood — you can be courteous by not eating and drinking in public during the day. Opt for indoor seating in restaurants and if you need water, sip it discreetly. At sunset, head to restaurants to sample special bread, dates, and other delicacies that are traditionally served at the meal.