Message from Mufti İbrahim Şerif for Mawlid al-Nabi
In his written statement, Mufti Şerif provided information about Mawlid al-Nabi, the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and extended his greetings to the Muslim Turkish community of Western Thrace and the wider Islamic world.
Mufti Şerif expressed his condolences for the martyrs in Gaza and prayed that this meaningful night would bring blessings to the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace and all of humanity.
Here is Mufti İbrahim Şerif’s message for Mawlid al-Nabi:
“Dear Brothers and Sisters, the evening of September 14, 2024, marks Mawlid al-Nabi. This night commemorates the birth of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) according to the lunar calendar. The Prophet was born in Mecca on the night of the 12th of Rabīʿ al-Awwal, a Monday. His blessed birth is one of the most significant events in human history.
In the era of his birth, people had lost their moral compass and were wandering astray. Disbelief and injustice had darkened hearts, distancing people from the path to Allah. Social life was in disarray, and morality had decayed. Women were treated as property, and infant girls were cruelly buried alive. The world lacked the security and peace that humanity desperately needs, and many regions were engulfed in bloody conflicts. The world was in dire need of a prophet to reform it, and all hopes were pinned on the prophesied final prophet mentioned in Jewish and Christian traditions. The world awaited this savior with eager anticipation amidst the darkness.
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born at such a critical time. The dawn following this night was truly radiant. A new day dawned for humanity, and a bright era began. The arrival of our beloved Prophet, the guiding light and beacon of righteousness, was a great blessing from Allah to all of humankind. As stated in the Quran, 'Indeed, Allah has conferred a great favor upon the believers by sending them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and Wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error.' The Quran also describes him as 'a mercy to the worlds.'
Throughout his twenty-three years of prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad strove to replace idolatry with monotheism, oppression with justice, enmity with brotherhood, and conflict with solidarity. He aimed to establish peace in society. Through his exemplary conduct—truthfulness, kindness, trustworthiness, justice, tolerance, and generosity—he served as a model for humanity. In contrast, he fought against practices that disrupt individual and societal peace, such as blood feuds, theft, violence, revenge, hatred, alcoholism, gambling, theft, eating orphan's wealth, lying, gossip, envy, and slander. Through these efforts and the light of revelation, he ended an era characterized by ignorance, idolatry, tribalism, tyranny, injustice, disorder, and violence, replacing it with a society based on peace and harmony.
The Prophet provided religious, legal, and judicial autonomy to non-Muslims, allowing them to preserve their cultural identities, and demonstrated that diverse religious and cultural groups can coexist. This approach also paved the way for tolerance, serving as an example for later centuries and other civilizations.
The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad have continued to serve as a model for Muslims throughout the centuries. The world today still needs the divine message he delivered and the implementation of his Sunnah. Islam is not merely the Quran; it was embodied, implemented, and institutionalized in the person of the Prophet. His role is crucial in understanding and practicing the Quran. Allah granted the authority to explain and implement the Quran to the Prophet alone. His mission was to convey his divine message to humanity and establish a social structure accordingly. His words and actions have provided the basis for various legal and ethical rulings.
The Prophet Muhammad said, 'I was sent to perfect good character.' We need his life, filled with exemplary character, more than ever. We must reintroduce and promote his exemplary conduct and practices to address the evolving challenges of the world. He invited people to unite under the belief in one Allah and established a community bound by love and compassion. His greatness and success lie in his ability to guide humanity to goodness through the best methods.
As we commemorate the birth of our beloved Prophet, it is not enough merely to recite Mawlid, sing hymns, and distribute sweets. The true purpose of commemorating his birth is to remember and renew our commitment to his universal message, high morals, and virtues, and to apply them in our lives. The way to attain Allah’s love, approval, and forgiveness is to follow the Prophet’s path. As stated in the Quran, 'Say, "If you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."' As highlighted in this verse, pleasing Allah is achieved by adhering to and emulating His Prophet.
On this occasion, I congratulate you on Mawlid al-Nabi, pray for the martyrs in Gaza, and ask Allah to make this night a source of blessings for the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace and all of humanity.”
