Mufti İbrahim Şerif’s message on Mawlid al-Nabi
Mufti of Gümülcine, İbrahim Şerif, issued a message on the occasion of the upcoming Mawlid al-Nabi, the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
In his statement, Mufti Şerif highlighted the meaning and importance of Mawlid, extending his greetings to the Muslim community:
“I congratulate you on the occasion of Mawlid al-Nabi. I pray to Allah for mercy upon our brothers who were martyred in Gaza, and I ask the Almighty that this blessed night brings goodness to the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and to all humanity.”
Full Message of Mufti İbrahim Şerif:
“Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On the evening of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, we will observe Mawlid al-Nabi, the night marking the birth of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who came into this world on the 12th night of the month of Rabi‘ al-Awwal, according to the lunar calendar. The birth of the Prophet is one of the most significant events in human history.
At that time, humanity had lost its values, morality had decayed, injustice and oppression were widespread, and people were in desperate need of guidance. The Prophet’s arrival illuminated the world with faith, justice, mercy, and compassion. He replaced idolatry with monotheism, injustice with justice, hostility with brotherhood, and chaos with order.
Throughout his 23 years of prophethood, the Prophet set an example with his morals—truthfulness, trustworthiness, justice, tolerance, generosity—and fought against social ills such as blood feuds, oppression, corruption, gambling, and immorality. His teachings transformed the Age of Ignorance (‘Jahiliyya’) into an era of peace and civilization.
The Prophet’s message was universal and timeless. His Sunnah, alongside the Qur’an, provides a complete framework for understanding and practicing Islam. Today, humanity is in need of this divine message more than ever.
As the Prophet himself said: ‘I was sent to perfect good character.’ Remembering his birth should not be limited to reciting mevlid poems or distributing sweets. The true purpose is to reflect on his universal mission, his noble character, and to renew our determination to apply his teachings in our daily lives.
Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: ‘Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (Qur’an 3:31) This verse emphasizes that attaining Allah’s love and mercy is possible only by following the Prophet’s path.
On this blessed night, I once again congratulate you on Mawlid al-Nabi. I pray for mercy upon our brothers martyred in Gaza and ask Allah to bless the Palestinian people, the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace, and all humanity with goodness.”
