Turkish religious authority urges Muslims to uphold human dignity in Friday sermon

The sermon emphasizes the sanctity of life, condemns all forms of violence, and highlights the principles of compassion and mercy central to Islam.

The sermon begins by recalling the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Farewell Sermon during the 10th year of Hijrah, where he declared the inviolability of human life, property, and honor. The Prophet's words, "A believer is someone in whom people trust regarding their life and wealth," underscore the responsibility of Muslims to safeguard the dignity and safety of others.

The sermon highlights the importance of respecting human dignity regardless of gender, age, or social status. It condemns violence, especially against women, which has been increasingly reported. "Violence is a crime against humanity," the sermon states, adding that it is an affront to human dignity and unacceptable in Islam.

"Violence knows no religion, language, race, or social status," the sermon stresses, calling for an end to violence in all its forms. It warns oppressors that they face disgrace in this world and Hell in the afterlife.

Quoting the Qur’an, the sermon reinforces the value of life: "...Whoever kills a soul...it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." The message urges believers to embrace compassion and avoid any actions that harm others, reminding them of the importance of mercy in Islam.

The sermon concludes by praying for the victims of violence, particularly women, and calls for the reign of mercy in people's hearts and the world. The Turkish Religious Authority hopes that this message will inspire communities to reject violence and uphold human dignity.

The full text of the Friday sermon is as follows:

VIOLENCE AND HUMAN DIGNITY NEVER GO TOGETHER

Honorable Muslims!

It was the tenth year of the Hijrah at the time. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) and His distinguished Companions met for the worship of hajj in Mecca, the mother of all cities. They were performing one of the obligations during hajj, the standing at Arafat. Addressing tens of thousands of believers gathered at this holy site and giving important messages for all humanity, the Messenger of Allah (saw) began his Farewell Sermon as follows: “O People! Verily your blood, your property, and your honor are as sacred and inviolable as the sacredness of this day of yours, in this month of yours (Dhu al-Hijjah), in this city of yours (Mecca).” After this warning, our beloved Prophet (saw) continued his remarks as follows: “Behold! I am describing who a believer is: A believer is someone in whom people trust regarding their life and wealth. A Muslim is the one from whose hand and tongue people are safe.”

Dear Believers!

According to our great religion, Islam, the body, the person, the dignity, the chastity, and the honor of every human being, whether a man or a woman, a child or an elderly person, are inviolable. For this reason, no person may seek to harm another person’s life, property, or personal rights. No person has the right to act in a manner that might jeopardize the respect and dignity of another person. No person may act in a way or have an attitude that might cause harm to any living or non-living being.

Dear Muslims!

Violence against women, which we are tragically experiencing more and more on a daily basis, burns our consciences and blisters our hearts. In fact, having no place in our faith, violence is a crime against humanity. Violence is impotence, mercilessness, and oppression. It is a violation of the right to life and will never be acceptable to human dignity. No rationale may ever be used as an excuse for violence.

Violence knows no religion, language, race, geography, or social status. No form of violence, regardless of its source, can ever be acceptable. The wrath of our Lord (swt), the curse of angels, and everything that exists on the land and in the skies are all directed against oppressors who resort to violence and take lives that Allah (swt) sees as sacred. There is only disgrace for them in this world. Hell is their only destination in the Afterlife.

Dear Believers!

According to our religion, what matters most is compassion, mercy, and keeping alive. What matters most is not to attempt against or harm a soul Allah (swt) regards innocent. In this respect, it is stated in our divine book the Holy Qur’an as follows, “...Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.”

Today, when we see images of violence and mercilessness on screens much more often, what falls upon us is to gird ourselves with mercy at all times and act with compassion and conscience. We should make compassion and love, affection and kindness an integral part of our lives. We should make sure that our spouse, children, family, neighbors, and all around us are safe from our hand and tongue. We should oppose any forms of rhetoric and action that create, promote, legitimize, and lead to violence. We should utilize all of our available resources to end violence and defend human dignity. We should never forget that breaking a heart is a sin worse than destroying the Ka’bah, not to mention resorting to violence. We must constantly remember that we are the heirs of a civilization whose members refrained from even harming an ant.

I would like to use this opportunity to wish the Almighty Allah’s (swt) mercy on all my sisters who were subjected to violence and whose lives were taken from them. May our Lord Almighty (swt) bless us with the ability to make mercy reign supreme in our hearts first, and then throughout the face of the earth. (ILKHA)