Turkey Is Strong In Community Spirit
There is an old Arabic proverb stating ‘Choose the neighbour before the house’ and there is much wisdom in it. We have to remember that although Turkey is not classed as a Muslim country and doesn’t govern or judge by the Shariah Law, its local inhabitants are still however prominently Muslim. This means Islam plays a big part in many of the local people’s lives. Acknowledging this will help you understand their culture and lifestyle values.
The Religious Links To Turkish Culture
Islam holds a great regard to the neighbour and there are several hadiths on the topic:
“The neighbour that is the best to his Lord is the one that is best to his neighbour.“ (Sunan Tirmidhi Vol #4, Hadith #1944)
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol #7, Hadith #5185)
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should serve his neighbour generously.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol #8, Hadith #6019)
“If you cook some soup, add extra water and send some to your neighbour.” (Sahih Muslim Vol #6, Hadith #6688-6689)
“No one should prevent his neighbour from fixing a wooden peg in his wall.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol #3, Hadith #2463)
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!” So it was said to him, “Who is that, O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) that does not believe?” So he (PBUH) replied, “The person whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil.“ (Sahih Bukhari Vol #8, Hadith #6016)
The rights and kindness towards the neighbour, in Islam, were emphasised by the Angel Gabriel (RAA) so much so that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) thought that HE (Gabriel) may even assign them a share of the inheritance. (Bukhari & Muslim)
The blessed Prophet (PBUH) has laid so much emphasis on the rights of neighbours that he even advised “whenever a Muslim brings fruits for his children he should either send some to his neighbours as a gift or at least not throw the peelings outside his house. This was so that the neighbour wouldn’t experience any feelings of deprivation.
On another occasion, the Prophet (PBUH) said “A man is really good if his neighbours regard him as such and he is really bad if they consider him so.“
This practice of being kind and close with our neighbours that was frequently practised by the early Muslims and companions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can actually still be seen today in many Muslim lands and especially in Turkey.
Any area in Turkey, that many locals reside in, will have a very close-knit and active community. Regardless of whether you are in a conservative or more secular part of Turkey, Turkish locals will still practice most of the above-mentioned acts of kindness.
The neighbours will often send plates of food to each other’s houses and when anyone is blessed with maybe the new seasons olive oil, or a basket full or seasonal fruits or vegetables, you can be sure to get your share.
The ladies often sit with each other on the street outside their houses and chat about their daily activities and local news. If anyone is sick they will be visited and if anyone has a baby they will go and congratulate and so on.
How Would Turkish Culture Influence Your Decision on Where to Live?
So, how does this affect you and what role does Turkish culture play in choosing the right place to live in Turkey?
Well to start with, many Turkish landlords would have lived in the property for rent or for sale at some point in their life, so they will already know and be very close to the neighbours. That means he or she will feel obligated to please them and protect them from any nuisance and trouble. It means that in most cases the neighbours will have the Landlord’s or owners number and have a generous amount of influence on who he chooses to either rent or buy his accommodation.
On the occasion of buying or renting in a newly built residential building in a complex or site, as they say in Turkish, you might not have this problem. However, you can still be made to feel very alien, if you don’t make any effort to show an interest or any manners or consideration for the neighbours.
Turks already find it quite difficult to trust foreigners when wanting to rent out their property. They have a tendency to prefer families to prevent late-night parties and different kinds of people coming and going all the time. They also fear you can pick up and go one-day owing months of rent or something. So, if given the opportunity and the benefit of the doubt, we need to set a good example to try to eliminate this assumption.
Of course, there’s no guarantee you will ever face any of the above issues, especially in areas that are heavy with the ex-pat community. Places such as Taksim in Istanbul or Izmir, Antalya & Alanya on the Anatolian side of Turkey, on the southern coast, are really popular with tourists and ex-pats. The locals in these areas have probably already become familiar and aware of their western customs, but not all of them are the same.
Bottom line is to try not to get on the wrong side of your neighbours. Particularly during these times where many of us have been forced to be homebound with covid restrictions and self-isolation etc. You will find your neighbours can actually become your best friends.
Final Thoughts
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