In the verse I have recited, Allah the Almighty states, "And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers."[1]
In the hadith I have read, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) says, "He who fights that Allah's word should be superior fights in Allah's cause."[2]
Dear Believers!
The month of August has witnessed numerous victories that our glorious nation, who opened the gates of Anatolia towards peace and justice, has won in a bid to ensure that the truth prevails on earth. We have breasted many challenges for our faith, independence, homeland, and future. We have shown patience and fought with our heart and soul, but have never given up, fallen down, or lost our hope. In Allah we have trusted, and with His help, we have made history with many of our glorious victories from Malazgirt (Manzikert) to Mohacs (Mohaç), and from Sakarya to Dumlupınar.
Dear Muslims!
One of the most valuable blessings bestowed by Allah the Almighty upon people is to have a homeland. For a homeland means trust, peace, hope, and honor. This beloved homeland of ours is a sacrosanct entrustment to us by our martyrs who have sacrificed their lives in keeping their promise to Allah and our veterans who have run from one battlefront to another. This fact is explained in Turkish National Anthem as follows:
See not the soil you tread on as mere earth,
But think about the thousands beneath you that lie without even shrouds. You're the noble son of a martyr, take shame, hurt not your ancestor! Unhand not, even when you're promised worlds, this paradise of a homeland.
Therefore, let us know the value of this heavenly homeland, on the chest of which we go to sleep safely every night and we wake up to freedom every morning. Let us work day and night for the good, happiness, and prosperity of our nation with the strength coming from our love of homeland. Let us protect and keep our unity, solidarity, and brotherhood over any kind of interests. Let us not forget that it is a binding duty upon us to defend every inch of our homeland and every individual of our nation.
Dear Believers!
Last week marked the beginning of a new year in hijri calendar. Tomorrow we will welcome 10th of Muharram, namely the Day of Ashura. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) says, "I hope that Allah may make fasting on the day of Ashura an expiation for the sins of the preceding year."[3] He (saw) recommends Muslims to fast two days by also adding either the 9th or 11th of Muharram to the Day of Ashura.[4]
The Day of Ashura is also the day when Husayn the Master of Martyrs and about seventy people from the family of Prophet Muhammad along with him were martyred in Karbala. This sinister and sorrowful incident is a wound in the hearts of all Muslims whose hearts burn with the love of Prophet Muhammad (saw). Today, what falls upon us not to get heavily wounded like that in Karbala is to become knowledgeable and act consciously. We, like Husayn (ra), need to remain committed to the guidance of the Holy Qur'an and to Prophet Muhammad's sunnah until our last breath.
Let us not forget that no benefit to be obtained in this mortal life can be superior to the abundance of divine blessings and benevolence that come with brotherhood in faith. No fortune, fame, wealth or rank can be ever more valuable than being the subject of a Muslim's supplication to Allah, touching upon a heart, and being sacrificing for the same high ideals.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Allah's mercy upon Husayn (ra) particularly and all martyrs of Karbala. I remember with gratitude all noble martyrs of our homeland, particularly our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives, our veterans, and our heroic commanders in the War of Independence on August 30 when we as the entire nation won a victory.
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[1] Saff, 61/13.
[2] Bukhari, Tawhid, 28.
[3] Tirmidhi, Sawm, 48.
[4] Ibn Hanbal, I, 240.
General Directorate of Religious Services