Kandil (from Arabic: قنديل, romanized: qindīl) refers to five Islamic holy nights, celebrated in Ottoman and Muslim Balkan communities, related to the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, when the minarets are illuminated and special prayers are made. It is a tradition dated back to the Ottoman Sultan Selim II of the 16th century, who with the support of the Shaykh al-Islām "Chief Jurisconsult"[1] of the time, thought it was appropriate to light up the minarets on mosques for these blessed occasions.[2]
Kandil is derived from Arabic qindīl "chandelier, candelabra",[3] and refers to an oil lamp. Kandil nights play a less significant role than the Bayram festivals.
In Turkey, Kandil simidi, a special smaller form of simit is commonly sold on Kandil days.