The sermon was delivered across more than 85,000 mosques within the country, as well as over 2,000 mosques abroad under the authority of the directorate.

In the sermon, the religious authority stressed the importance of marriage in Islam and urged Muslims to keep their weddings simple and affordable.

The authority also warned against the dangers of excessive spending on weddings, which can lead to financial problems for couples and even the breakdown of marriages.

The sermon concluded by calling on Muslims to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to uphold the values of modesty and simplicity in their weddings.

The full text of sermon is as follows:

Dear Muslims,

In the verse I have just recited, Allah the Almighty states, “And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect.”

In the verse I have read, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “The best of marriages is that which is most affordable.”

Dear Believers,

Marriage is one of the commandments of Allah the Almighty and a sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw). The beloved Prophet said, .اَلنِّكَاحُ مِنْ سُنَّتِى. فَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِسُنَّتِى فَلَيْسَ مِنِّى “Marriage is part of my sunnah, and whoever does not follow my sunnah has nothing to do with me.”  Marriage is a sacred agreement that gives religious, legal and moral responsibilities to both woman and man. It is not a burden; it is a blessing. It is not a hardship; it is compassion. Marriage does not mean meeting the biological needs only. It also includes the sharing of hearts, ideals, joys and sorrows.

Honorable Muslims,

As expressed by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), marriage helps people to protect their eyes from haram and to guard their modesty.  It is indeed the foundation and guarantee of a strong society and a bright future. It is the safe haven that shelters spouses from the evil, and a shield against all kinds of threats. Allah the Almighty explains this aspect of marriage in the Holy Qur’an as, هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّۜ “Your spouses are a garment for you as you are for them.”  (“Garment” (libās) is a metaphor for comfort, chastity, and protection.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Marriage is performed by nikah with the mutual consent of the man and the woman in the presence of witnesses. Nikah is the declaration that two hearts got united and became life partners for each other. With the nikah contract, spouses promise each other that they will adopt love, respect, loyalty, patience, mercy, and compassion as principle in their relationship. They agree to always be there for one another in both in wealth and poverty, and both in joy and sorrow.

Esteemed Muslims,

The essential thing in our weddings, which are the declaration of marriage, is modesty and simplicity. It entails being away from vanity and extravagance. Today, however, excessive spending on marriage causes trouble for families. The heavy burden of debt undertaken by the newly-wed couple casts a shadow over their peace and happiness. The best time of their lives turn into a period of restlessness and trouble due to financial concerns. This can even be the reason for some marriages to end before it starts, or may lead to divorce in time. 

Dear Believers,

Then, let us all act in accordance with the consent of our Lord (swt) and the sunnah of our Prophet (saw). Let us lay the foundation for our children’s families with Basmalah. Let us observe the commands and prohibitions of Islam while organizing a wedding. Let us not violate the limits of privacy. Let us all stay away from all kinds of haram that harms people’s health and dignity. Let us all avoid all attitudes and behaviors that harm the societal peace, disturb the people around us, and give damage to people’s lives and property. Let us all keep in mind that our Lord always sees us, and that He (swt) will certainly bring us to account for everything we do.

Honorable Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to conclude my khutbah after sharing two issues with you. First, our gracious nation showed its kindness to the Presidency of Religious Affairs and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation in this year’s qurbani organization. We have delivered the 745,535 shares of qurbani entrusted to us to around thirty-five brothers and sisters both in Türkiye and in abroad, particularly the earthquake victims, Alhamdulillah. May Allah the Almighty be pleased with our dear nation who is the pioneer in goodness and charity, and who always puts a smile on the faces of the oppressed and the victims. Secondly, the six-week summer Qur’an courses began on Monday, July 3rd. Registration still continues. We invite our children to our summer Qur’an courses to learn the Holy Qur’an and basics of Islam. Let us not deprive them of this spiritual feast. (ILKHA)