Turkish Islam was characterised by a very high sense and loyalty. The religious and moral integrity of the Ottoman sultans was exemplary, as evidenced for instance by the self-denial of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, who at a very advanced age did not shrink before the rigours of the war in Hungary but died on the battlefield. But it is in the field of justice that Ottoman rule revealed itself to be different from other Islamic states. The Sultan to the tribunals and judges, who were called upon to apply the law based on the Koran, gave full authority. The judges, called kady, were the principal authority in the provinces. They were part of the pround hierarchy of judicial and religious dignitaries and ready, when their conscience obliged them, to challenge religious and military authorities.

Another difference of Turkish Islam was that the Turks continued their pre-Islamic mystic traditions, influenced by their former religions, in particular Shamanism. Buddhism and Manicheism. Turkish Islam was equally more inclined to adapt to modern and Western concepts. Indeed several reforms were initiated in the 19^th and the beginning of the 20^th century, including the adoption of constitutional monarchy. But the gradual decay in the state structure, and the lack of effective leadership.

Over 99% of the Turkish population follows the Muslim faith, in a country of religious freedom and tolerance. Muslims pray five times a day.

Which had characterised the Ottoman Empire since the 17^th century, prevented the reforms from taking root. After the collapse of the Empire, its successor, the Turkish Republic, abolished the theocratic structure of the state and made secularism an immutable constitution al principle. This means that religion is between the individual and God, and should neither interfere in government affairs nor constitute an official constraint on the individual. Turkish people naturally continue to be deeply attached to the Islamic faith and traditions, a fact reflected by the estimated 65,000 mosques in Turkey.