Holidays

I hope everyone in the States had a fun Independence Day.  For practicing Muslims here in Turkey, another holiday began this evening.  It is called Berat Kendili in Turkish or Laylat al-Bara'at in Arabic.  According to some hadiths, records of the doings or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.  God forgives the sins of Muslims and bestows great blessings on the night of 15th of the month of Shaban, according to the Islamic lunar calender.  It is believed that prayers made tonight will be answered in the upcoming year.  There are several TV stations here in Turkey broadcasting live from famous mosques in Istanbul where large crowds have gathered to pray and listen to Qur'an recitations.  My host family has been calling and receiving calls from close family and friends wishing them a good holiday.  Muslims do not necessarily fast on this holiday and some hold night-long prayer vigils.