'Vote is honour, our future, our mosques, our schools'
The Friday sermon titled "The Vote is a Matter of Honor" published by the Xanthi Mufti's Office addressed the upcoming elections on Sunday, May 21st. The sermon emphasized the significance of the ballot and its connection to honor, the future, mosques, and schools. It drew attention to the dangers of voting for individuals who seek to eradicate the minority both religiously and nationally, stating, "To vote for those who want to eliminate the minority from a religious and national perspective means preparing our own demise."
On May 19th, the Friday sermon to be delivered in the mosques of Xanthi region is as follows:
"Respected Muslims!
In the noble verse I recited at the beginning of my sermon, Almighty Allah says: 'Do those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers seek honor with them? But indeed, all honor belongs to Allah.'
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said in a hadith: 'O servants of Allah, be brothers! A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he leave him alone when he is in need. He does not belittle or dishonor him. Indeed, piety is right here.'
The Messenger of Allah repeated the phrase 'Indeed, piety is right here' three times, each time pointing to his chest. In another hadith, he stated: 'Considering one's Muslim brother as insignificant and worthless is sufficient evil for a person.'
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
These verses and hadiths contain advice for us in social, economic, moral, and political aspects. A Muslim cannot remain indifferent to the society in which he lives. This indicates that he is a good Muslim with good character. Because one aspect of good character is to promote goodness and prevent evil. Therefore, a Muslim should do everything in his power to eliminate anything harmful to people and construct, sustain, and propagate what benefits humanity.
Our beloved Prophet, with the warning 'He who does not concern himself with the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them,' emphasizes the necessity for individuals to be sensitive to social issues. The Messenger of Allah does not find it suitable for a Muslim to be indifferent to what is happening around him. If he has the power, he will personally eliminate the ugliness he witnesses; if he lacks the power, he will speak out against the wrongs with his words; and if he is unable to do even that, he must express his dissatisfaction.
Dear Kinsmen!
The Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority is a national and religious minority. Just as we must protect our religion, we must also protect our national characteristics. In this regard, as we all know, there will be elections on the coming Sunday. May it be auspicious for our country and our minority! It should be known that the ballot used in elections is more than just a piece of paper; it is a matter of honor, our future, our mosques, and our schools. To vote for individuals who seek to eliminate the minority from a religious and national perspective means preparing our own demise. However, if we act with the sense of responsibility that we have tried to explain above, as Western Thrace Muslim Turks, we will successfully pass this election test and send individuals from within our own community, who are committed to the minority institutions and cause and will fight for our rights, to the parliament as Members of Parliament. It should not be forgotten how wrong it is to underestimate our fellow believers and rely on non-Muslims for support, especially in light of the responsibility consciousness we have described."
