Cultural practices

Ablutions: 5 times a day Muslims are called to pray to Allah as part of the practice of Islam. Prior to kneeling to pray ( facing Mecca) they wash themselves in stand/ablution such as this .Usually not as decorative as this ( this ablution was at the Topkapi Palace, others are normally just carved stone) . They wash their feet hands and face . Such ablutions are situated around the outside of the mosques. The calling, by a man chanting, is all over the city from many of the minarets which are part of the structure of the mosques .In our area there is a minaret close by and the calling wakes us up in the early hours of the morning. From what we have seen the mosques are not anywhere near full at these times although throughout the city men will drop to kneel where ever they are to pray. I haven't seen alot of woman praying , mainly men.