They used to change provinces with one step and break their fast 2 minutes apart: The times have been synchronized

The borders of Ambartepe Neighborhood, located 30 kilometers from the center of Samsun's Terme district, and Şentepe Neighborhood, located 24 kilometers from Ordu's İkizce district, are separated by a road 7 meters wide. While half of the road, which is accepted as the border line between the two metropolitan cities, belongs to Samsun, the other side is located on Ordu territory.

In the neighborhood, which has been a settlement for about 80 years, provinces change with a single step, and because there were two mosques in the region, sometimes the sounds of the call to prayer would get mixed up.

The residents, who had to dial the intercity area code when they wanted to call their neighbors across the street, no longer break their fasts with a two-minute difference. Now, the sounds of the call to prayer rise simultaneously from the two mosques in the region, which are about 100 meters apart.

The residents say that the time difference between them has disappeared following the meetings held by the district muftis.

"PROVINCES CHANGE WITH TWO STEPS"

Turan Kışla, who owns a grocery store on the Samsun Terme side but is originally from Ordu İkizce, said, "One side of me is Ordu, the other side is Samsun. We have always lived here in unity and solidarity. Previously, there was a 2-minute difference in the call to prayer here, but now they have been synchronized. All prayer times are recited at the same hour and the same minute. There were some lighthearted debates here, which is why it has now been synchronized. Provinces change with two steps."

"WE HAVE ELIMINATED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US"

Ordu İkizce Şentepe Neighborhood Headman Engin Arslan stated, "We used to break our fasts with a minute difference, but a decision was made this year. Everyone is already related. For this reason, we meet at a common point and hold iftar programs one evening next to one mosque and the next evening next to the other. Through this, we have eliminated the difference between us. It turned out well for us. It will not be recited differently for this year, but we do not know what will happen in the coming years."

"IT IS BETTER FOR US"

Fahrettin Kışla, who resides on the İkizce side, said, "The time difference between us has now disappeared. Until now, the call to prayer was recited with a 2-minute difference, but that has been lifted. The Terme side was recited later, but now the call to prayer is recited together. It is better for us. People used to get confused before, but now it is the same."

With the joint decision taken by the residents of both neighborhoods, an iftar program will be organized one evening on the Samsun side and the next evening on the Ordu province side. The iftar programs will be held in the areas of the mosques located in the neighborhoods.

News Source: 12punto