Growing Alcohol Use Among Young Muslims
A concerned Turkish gentleman explained how drinking habits are changing in Constantinople. He believes many young Muslims have become intemperate with alcohol consumption. This troubles him greatly because it goes against traditional Islamic teachings and values Turkish Culture Beauty Charity and Changing Times.
“Many young Muslims have become intemperate,” he said with obvious worry. He blames this problem on the bad example set by Christian foreigners living in the city. Young Turkish men see foreign residents drinking alcohol and want to copy their behavior.
The problem starts with high-ranking officials who feel pressured to serve wine at their homes. Pashas and other public men believe they must offer alcohol to their guests. This happens because they receive wine when they visit foreign homes. They think serving wine shows sophistication and hospitality.
This creates a dangerous cycle that spreads drinking throughout Turkish society. What begins as diplomatic courtesy becomes a social expectation. Young men see their leaders drinking and assume it must be acceptable behavior.
The Sultan’s Personal Example
Interestingly, the Sultan himself maintains traditional abstinence from alcohol. He drinks nothing but water and coffee throughout his daily routine. This shows his commitment to Islamic principles and traditional Turkish values. His personal behavior sets a good example for his subjects Walking Tours Ephesus.
However, even the Sultan offers wine to his guests during formal dinners. This practice shows how foreign diplomatic customs influence even the highest levels of government. The Sultan balances his personal beliefs with the expectations of international diplomacy.
This contradiction creates confusion throughout Turkish society. People see their religious leader offering alcohol to guests while maintaining personal abstinence. This mixed message makes it harder for ordinary citizens to understand proper behavior.
Religious Justification for Bad Behavior
The Turkish gentleman shared a disturbing conversation with a friend that illustrates this problem. He met a pasha who offered him a glass of wine during a social visit. The gentleman declined, explaining that his religion forbade drinking alcohol.
The pasha’s response revealed a troubling attitude toward religious rules. “So does mine,” the pasha replied, “but God is merciful and I shall be forgiven.” This response shows how some Turkish officials excuse their behavior by assuming God’s forgiveness.
This attitude represents a dangerous shift in Turkish religious thinking. Instead of avoiding forbidden behavior, some people now commit sins while expecting automatic forgiveness. This undermines the moral foundation of Islamic society and encourages further rule-breaking.
Disloyalty Among the Upper Classes
One of Turkey’s greatest problems is the disloyalty of wealthy and powerful people. The upper classes show little genuine commitment to their country or ruler. This creates serious weakness in the government’s foundation and threatens the empire’s stability.
The lower classes demonstrate much stronger loyalty to their leaders and religion. Common people are fanatical in their devotion to the Sultan and the Islamic faith. However, their loyalty focuses on the office rather than the individual person holding it.
These ordinary citizens care very little about who actually occupies the throne. They will give their lives cheerfully to support and defend any Sultan. This loyalty comes from their religious beliefs rather than personal attachment to specific leaders.
The Courage of Turkish Soldiers
Turkish soldiers are excellent fighters when they receive good leadership. They show absolutely no fear in battle because of their religious training. From childhood, they learn that dying in defense of the church or Sultan leads directly to paradise.
This religious incentive provides sufficient motivation for incredible bravery in warfare. Turkish soldiers fight with remarkable courage because they believe death in battle guarantees eternal reward. This makes them formidable opponents in any conflict.
However, their effectiveness depends entirely on having competent commanders. Without good leadership, even the bravest soldiers cannot achieve victory. This highlights the importance of having skilled officers in the Turkish military.
Absence of Loyalty and Patriotism
Surprisingly, the Turkish language contains no words for “loyalty” and “patriotism.” These important concepts are almost entirely unknown to Turkish culture. This linguistic gap reflects a deeper problem in Turkish society and government.
Pashas and other high-ranking officials focus on personal advancement rather than national service. They constantly compete with each other to gain the Sultan’s favor. Their main goals are acquiring power, influence, and wealth for themselves.
This selfish focus creates constant intrigue and competition at the highest levels of government. Officials spend more time plotting against each other than serving their country. This internal competition weakens the government’s ability to function effectively.
The Problem of Absolute Authority
The foundation of all Turkey’s troubles lies in the Sultan’s absolute authority. He can appoint anyone to the highest offices regardless of their qualifications or character. This power allows him to elevate the most unworthy and incompetent favorites at his court.
The Sultan can create and destroy pashas at his pleasure. This precarious tenure of rank and dignity creates terrible incentives for corruption. Officials never know when they might lose their positions, so they focus on immediate personal gain.
This uncertainty makes government officials corrupt, treacherous, and envious of each other. They cannot plan for the future or build stable institutions. Instead, they concentrate on extracting as much wealth as possible before losing their positions.
Complete Absence of Justice
Another major source of weakness is the complete absence of anything resembling justice in the Ottoman legal system. If someone accuses a man before the Sultan, he faces punishment without trial or investigation. This creates a climate of fear throughout the government.
The accusations can come from the Sultan’s spies or any informer, regardless of their social rank. High and low accusers receive equal consideration from the Sultan. This system encourages false accusations and personal vendettas.
In very rare cases, the accused person gets an opportunity to make a personal defense. However, the Sultan assumes every man is guilty until proven innocent. Unfortunately, the opportunity to submit proof of innocence seldom comes.
This corrupt justice system destroys trust throughout Turkish society. People live in constant fear of false accusations and unfair punishment. This fear prevents honest criticism and reform of the government’s many problems.
