“The religious officials of ours guide all financially and morally in this challenge against Covid-19”

The President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş made evaluations regarding the agenda in the program of “İyilik Vakti (Time of Goodness)” which was broadcasted live in the Diyanet TV.

Stating that all religious officials are in the field and at the service of the nation in order to implement the measures which have been taken to challenge against Covid-19, the President of Religious Affairs Erbaş said that the biggest goodness in this difficult process which we have been experiencing was to comply with the curfew and the measures which have been taken.

The President Erbaş stated that he closely follows the activities they, as the Presidency, planned in the challenge against Covid-19 and expressed that he have been attending meeting with the provincial muftiates and the Directors of the Turkiye Diyanet Foundation domestically and the attaches and counsellors abroad through video conference system.

Drawing the attention to the fact that Covid-19 is one of the largest epidemics that the humankind has ever experienced, the President Erbaş said, “In the past, viruses such as SARS and MERS which affected many countries emerged, thanks to the Almighty Allah (swt), the humankind made researches with the mind that Allah (swt) gave them and found the vaccine and medicine of these viruses. There shall be a treatment of this as well, Inshallah. Our Prophet Muhammad (saw) is telling us this good news. For any kind of illness that the Almighty Allah (swt) has ever created, there is a cure definitely. Anyone who finds the cure of this illness will be the one who services the humanity greatly.”

“Our most important behavior that will lead us to win this trial will be the patience and the hope.”

Underlining that one should not fall in despair whatever happens, the President Erbaş used the expressions as “This is a trial, and we have to confront this trial in the best way possible and to win it by turning it into a good cause. Our most important behavior that will lead us to win this trial will be the patience, the determination and the hope. Especially, it will be the help of ours to each other.”

Stating that the religious officials who have been serving in the challenge against Covid-19 have encouraged the nation to be hopeful, the President Erbaş talked as “The religious officials of ours guide all both financially and morally. Our hodjas knock on the door of our people with their own power and efforts and ask them whether they need anything. They have been doing everything in their power and ability; even they withdraw the monthly pensions of the people from the ATMs and deliver them to the owners. One of our hodjas have turned a corner of the mosque of which he is in charge of into a market so that those who are benevolent may bring anything and those who are in need come and take it. There are thousands of similar beautiful examples showed by our brothers and hodjas. May the Almighty Allah (swt) be merciful for them.”

“Our hodjas in abroad help those in need without discrimination”

Stating that the religious officials abroad also help people who have difficulties due to Covid-19 in the countries where they perform duty, the President Erbaş continued his words as follows:

“Our hodjas in abroad help their neighbors in need without discrimination, and they help not only the Turkish citizens but also those of other nationals in Italy, France and United States of America.  Whoever needs help, they show them their best efforts. Can you imagine that the wives of our hodjas cook meals and take them to the hospitals? In other words, when they see this affection, the favourism of those people to Muslims increases. Some Islamophobic judgments that have been formed in the minds for a long time are decreasing, and maybe disappearing. Inshallah, this process will lead Islamophobia to be demolished, that is, people who are afraid of Islam to throw their fears and love Islam and love Muslims. There is no need to ask the faith and race of the person who is in need. This is the essence of our civilization. It is important to be with the one in need, regardless of who he is.”

“If we turn our house into a masjid, the Almighty Allah (swt) will grant us the reward we will receive in the mosque, Inshallah”

Reminding that the suspension of the prayer with the community in the mosques will continue in Ramadan, too, as part of the measures which have been taken, the President Erbaş used the expressions as, “We are in sorrow. All through Ramadan, we will be away from our mosques and masjids and we definitely will miss them. With this yearning, if we turn our house into a masjid, and if we establish prayers in our homes, sometimes alone, sometimes with our spouse, with our child, with the tears of our tarawih prayers not to be established, the Almighty Allah (swt) will grant us the reward we will receive in the mosque, Inshallah.”

“We have opened the publications of the Presidency of Religious Affairs to free access in the digital platform”

Emphasizing that the time spent at home should be evaluated very well, the President Erbaş talked as, “Let us strive to contribute to the strengthening of the family ties. Let us read a lot of books. One of the biggest pillars of our civilization is science, knowledge, wisdom and reason. We have no worries about not finding a book now. We have uploaded the publications of the Presidency of Religious Affairs to digital platform. You can download and read whichever book you want to read for free of charge. Let me deliver this good news through you.”

The support call for the “Campaign of National Solidarity”

Reiterating his call for support for the "Campaign of National Solidarity,” which was launched under the leadership of the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan due to Covid-19, the President Erbaş said “From the very first day, our nation attended this invitation of our President with peace of heart and enthusiasm. We delivered this call to our personnel of 140 thousand. The Almighty Allah (swt) bless all, everyone participated this invitation in their own power and ability. The campaign continues. Inshallah, our nation continues to contribute to this campaign with all its means, that is, by mobilizing its means as much as possible.”