ISTANBUL - Every morning private channel Star TV has a show anchored by an Islamic theologian who answers a range of people’s questions such as "Will I see my dead baby in heaven?" and "What can I do to protect my brother from the jinn?"



Nihat Hatipoğlu 54 answers these questions and others on his live program titled "Nihat Hatipoğlu is Answering." The show starts at 8:40 a.m. around the same time that other channels are broadcasting entertainment shows soaps or programs where the relatives of criminals and their victims talk. Although Hatipoğlu’s program has been broadcasting that early for only eight months he said ratings were doing pretty well. But why does a religious program have more viewers than entertainment shows?

"People are eager for religious knowledge. They are looking for a person to whom they can ask all their questions" Hatipoğlu said. He said he believed the success of his program did not result from an increasing conservatism. "In contrast people are the same. All that time they were looking for someone to answer their questions" he said.

Two months ago he retired from the Directorate of Religious Affairs where he had worked for 36 years. He said the directorate should be closer to people and get rid of its bureaucracy. He said people have very good intentions and are willing to learn. "Our religious scholars do not deserve our people" he said.

Psychological help
His program is not only religious as it also offers a sort of psychological help according to Hatipoğlu. Sometimes especially when people ask for guidance to counter the jinn (a supernatural creature mentioned in the Koran and some say sent to lead people astray) or if they are grieving the loss of a loved one Hatipoğlu suggests that they not only pray but also seek professional help. He said people called him from their mobile phones asking for help at anytime day and night.

"Yesterday a woman called our producer and told her she would commit suicide if she couldn’t talk to me. It was late at night and I talked to her on the phone and calmed her down."

His audience is not only Muslims but includes atheists and non-Muslims according to Hatipoğlu. "A Greek-origin Turkish citizen told our managers that she watches only two television programs one is a Sunday ceremony on Greek TV and the second is our program."

Sometimes he said on his visits to European countries Christians who did not speak Turkish come across his program and learn about its aaaaaaa also watch it. "A French girl who learned of the aaaaaaa of the program from Turkish people living there came to my conferences in France and told me that she had decided to convert to Islam after she watched the programs" said Hatipoğlu. He added that he did not question the beliefs or religious views of his audiences.

"What makes me happy is that I can bring many people around one point: the Prophet Mohammad and the Koran." He said once a non-Muslim academic told him that he started to watch Hatipoğlu’s sahur (meal eaten before fasting) program which is broadcast very early in the morning during Ramadan.

Hatipoğlu has been anchoring television programs for five years. He may encounter any kind of question but usually people want to know about life after death and advice on marital and family problems according to Hatipoğlu. However he said he had any difficulty in answering questions.

"I follow contemporary and old publications about Islam which are in Arabic" he said. To be considered an Islamic scholar in Turaaa one has to be educated in an Imam Hatip High School and then attend a theology faculty or receive an equivalent education according to Hatipoğlu.