Found this on the back of my coffee packet and thought it was interesting

The first coffee shop that is known to have opened was Kiv Han in Constantinople (later Istanbul) in 1475 after being introduced to Turkey two years early by the Ottoman Turks. Coffee soon became a part of social life as coffee shops multiplied rapidly and within a few years there were hundreds of them in the city. People visited these coffee houses to talk, listen to music, watch dancing, play chess and other games, listen to the tales of wandering storytellers, or listen to other learned conversations and, of course, to drink coffee! Coffee houses in Turkey became known as the "Schools of the Wise", because so much could be learned there.

In the middle of the 16th Century, coffee was already drunk in Egypt, Syria, Persia and Turkey, and coffee shops were to be found in the cities of Medina, Cairo, Baghdad, Alexandria, Damas and Istanbul. Around the same time, Soliman the Magnificent´s Turkish warriors introduced the drink to the inhabitants of the Balkans, Central Europe, Spain and North Africa.

Attempts to ban coffee during these early years occurred quite regularly - often to little effect. In 1511, Khair Beg, the corrupt governor of Mecca, was executed after attempting to ban coffee - fearing that it´s influence might foster opposition to his rule. The sultan on hearing about this declared that coffee is sacred and ordered the governor´s death. Another try at banning coffee came from The Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire in 1656. He prohibited coffee and closed the coffee houses of Turkey. The penalty for drinking it, however, was nothing too serious - just a dunk in the Bosphorous in a leather satchel......

what a nice cup of Turkish coffee may I have some ?

I too would have some coffee please. Anyone can read the cup and tell fortune in the house?

If you want coffee please visit the Translation Lounge where Aenigma will be (should be) happy to serve you

What would coffee do to make opposition against his rule? Thats soo stupid!

 If the governer of Mekka, one of the most important and high prestigious jobs in the Ottoman Empire, would say that it is haram to drink coffee, what would the Muslim subjects of the Sultan think of him? If the Sultan is supposed to be the guard over the muslim world, but he allows something like coffee, which is declared haram by a person in a high religious-prestigious job, his people might make opposition against his rule

(edit. I just read again and I think my comment doesnt totally answer your question It was the governer who feared it could make opposition against his rule, right? I misunderstood it as-- the sultan is scared of opposition after the governer declared it forbidden)

Never mind

so the guy declared coffee haram?

why?

 Read my edit

Well I dont know about that specific topic, coffee. But I know about the tabacco protest in Ýran. Religion was used as a counterattack at European capitalism. I dont remember the details, but the Ýranian government had signed a deal that all the tabacco crops, produce etc. was to be in hands of Britain to use as they please. So when people became sick of being ruled by European expansionalism and capitalism, the religious leaders declared it haram to smoke. So now the Brits could produce the tabacco but there was nobody in Ýran buying it from them Sometimes religious decreeds etc can have a political, social or economical backgorund, as is the case here! I cant remember it with much detail, but the essence is as I described above

Thx for taking the time DK

I guess u noticed im quick at all, lol, im REALLy slow

But i guess i kinda get it

oh yeah,

HAPPY BAYRAM ! =D

its today since it passed midnight here!