President of Religious Affairs Erbaş announces the theme of the Month of Ramadan: “Ramadan and Righteousness”

Month of Ramadan Activities Introductory Meeting in 2022 held with the participation of President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş.

Giving a speech at the meeting which was held at the Conference Hall of Presidency of Religious Affairs, President of Religious Affairs Erbaş said that Ramadan month will begin with the first fasting on Saturday, 2 April following the first tarawih prayer to be performed on Friday evening, 1 April by expressing that they are happy and excited to get closer to Month of Ramadan.

Stating that this year, Ramadan will be comprehended with more excitement after the precautions of pandemic which have affected the world for more than two years, President Erbaş talked as, “Inshallah we will experience the peace of reviving the tarawihs, recitations, sahurs; in short, many unmatched beauties which make Ramadan meaningful and unforgettable all together this year.  Endless praise to Allah the Exalted (swt) who gives easiness with each difficulty, creates relieving with each trouble. I wish that humanity will completely get rid of this epidemic disease as soon as possible and may the Almighty Allah (swt) turn all the world into a place of peace and serenity with Ramadan-i Sharif.

“Righteousness is the most comprehensive and greatest responsibility of human in the world”

Announcing that they determined the theme of Month of Ramadan in 2022 as “Ramadan and Righteousness”, President Erbaş used the following expressions, “As you know, we put a subject on the agenda in the light of principles of our exalted religions, Islam every year in Month of Ramadan in order to increase sensitivity and raise awareness in society and we carry put service, activity and negotiations on that subject. We are in an endeavour to raise awareness on this subject by carrying out negotiations, conferences and seminars with many people in our country and abroad.“

Emphasizing that most fundamental moral value which makes human reach to goodness both in the world and hereafter is the Righteousness, President Erbaş talked as, “Righteousness, which constitutes the essence of life order built on servitude to Allah (swt), means words’ conformity to heart; the fact that intention, attitude and behaviour become one in the heart in terms of complete worship and sincerity. Righteousness is the most fundamental moral principle which concerns our entire existence and surrounds our entire life. For this reason, most comprehensive and greatest responsibility of human in the world, who Allah (swt) created as reverend creature, is Righteousness and righteousness. Performance of this responsibility is the corner stone of creating a peaceful and safe environment, which is one of the most important needs”

“Righteousness is one of the reference concepts of faith and morals of Islam.”

Underlining that every relation from individual to society, family to environment, the subject of which is human, may improve on a sound basis only if the environment of trust can be established, President Erbaş continued his words as follows:

“Environment of trust comes true when everybody in the society adopts the Righteousness and righteousness as a principle. Since it is not possible to talk about society of trust, where there is lie, cheat, deception. Where there is no Righteousness, we cannot talk about tranquillity, peace, fraternity, solidarity and helping each other. Righteousness, which is considered as the source of all kinds of abundance by our religion, is one of the reference concepts of faith and morals of Islam. It is the reference point of building a life based on tranquillity, well-being, serenity, and a society based on justice, compassion, and affection. Virtues such as loyalty, sincerity, fidelity, love, generosity, helping each outer and selflessness are the moral values rising on the concept of Righteousness. For this reason, our beloved Prophet (saw) said that the one whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil is not really a believer by relating the Righteousness and trust with faith.”

“Social media is the foremost among the places where the Righteousness is neglected”

Remarking that the need for life vision and ethical principles of Islam, particularly the Righteousness is being felt more and more in today’s world where the means of communication and interaction have transformed, President of Religious Affairs Erbaş talked as, “social media is the foremost among the places where the Righteousness is neglected most and the lie is spread fastest. Some people in internet and social media platforms can create all kinds of lies and share them with impunity. They can convey everything that they see and hear to the others without feeling the necessity of confirming their authenticity. However, causing the spread of a lie by sharing a news that we heard without confirming its authenticity is, firs of all, a great sin as violation of right of an individual. It is a dynamite that is placed on the ground of social unity and solidarity. For this reason, we will put the theme of “Righteousness” on our agenda during the month of Ramadan and give our best effort to create sensitivity by thoroughly discussing it. “

“Helping our needy brothers and sisters in the month of Ramadan will be the greatest achievement for us”

Pointing out that world goes through difficult and troubled processes today, President Erbaş used the following expressions “Millions of people are deprived of their most fundamental rights especially in the Islamic geographies due to wars, invasions, terrorist attacks and forced migration incidents. Millions of children pass away due to poverty, desperation and starvation. In such times, the importance of helping each other, sharing, binding up wounds, and sharing their burden cannot be explained. In the month of Ramadan that the good deeds are rewarded so much more, helping our needy brothers and sisters, poor people, abandoned children, orphans will be the greatest moral achievement for us. In this blessed times, it will be more beneficial than having all blessing of the world to cease the troubles of our brothers and sisters to some extent, who waits for a helping hand.”

“Let us be in an endeavour to increase the benevolence and barakah with Zakat, Sadaqah al-fitr and our iftar tables”

Uttering that month of Ramadan is a season of sharing, President Erbaş continued his words as follows:

In this season, we increase the worship, knowledge, love, effort and food by sharing; and we relieve the paint, sadness and grief by sharing. Eventually, we reinforce our fraternity, unity and solidarity by sharing the Eid. Therefore, let us be in an endeavour to increase the benevolence and barakah with Zakat, Sadaqah al-fitr and our iftar tables. The month of Ramadan is the month when especially the worship of zakat is intensely performed. Zakat is the share and right of poor people in the property of rich people. Therefore, neglecting Zakat or refraining from giving zakat is both a violation of right of an individual and a great sin in the presence of Allah (swt). Furthermore, let us not forget that our Zakats, Sadaqah al-fitrs, Sadaqahs and all of our good deeds are the sign of our sincerity, loyalty and righteousness to our faith and the Almighty Allah (swt). Undoubtedly, the Almighty Allah (swt) will reward us all much more than what we give with the blessings of Ramadan.”

“Our duty, as parents, is to make our children benefit from abundance of this month to the utmost”

Pointing out that the month of Ramadan is also an opportunity for education, President Erbaş made the following evaluation, “the month of Ramadan is an important opportunity for faith, worship and mercy education of our children. For this reason, we must allow our youth and children who is the trustee of our future experience the excitement and happiness in the performance of the worship in peaceful environment of our mosques. Our mosques is beautiful with our children, and meaningful with our youth.  Our duty, as parents, is to be in an endeavour that our children can benefit from abundance of this month and moral atmosphere of our mosques to the utmost. It is to create environments that will contribute to bringing them together with the life-giving and beautifying principles of Islam. For this reason, let us encourage and support our youth and children to taste the abundance of sahur, pleasure of fasting and happiness of iftar in person. Let us brighten up our mosques with our children in time prayers, tarawih prayers and recitations. Let them taste the beauty of worshipping together. Let them collect good memories regarding the month of Ramadan in their world of mind and heart.”

“We will try to fulfil our two years of longing by brightening up our mosques.”

Reminding that tarawih prayers will be established in congregation in our mosques this year after two years due to pandemic, President Erbaş talked as, “we carry and experience the excitement of this. This year, we will try to fulfil our two years of longing by brightening up our mosques by filling our mosques. However, we need to comply with the on-going measures and sensitivities in this process. Necessary measures such as cleaning and using masks taken by our Presidency, will continue to be implemented in our mosques and masjids. I request our brothers who have symptoms of illness not to join the congregation and to be patient until their illness passes.”

Activities to be performed during Ramadan

Giving information regarding the activities which will be carried out in the month of Ramadan, President Erbaş made the following statements:

“We will substantially perform our guidance activities face to face. Tarawih prayer will also be performed in our mosques in congregation as five-time prayer. We together will inhale the spiritual air of Ramadan with all of our family members by participating in tarawih prayers, conversations and recitations. Recitations will be performed in our mosques and Qur’an courses. Our citizens who cannot participate in recitations in our mosques, can follow the recitations to be performed on Diyanet TV every day during Ramadan. "Tarawih Prayers with Khatim" will be established in mosques and masjids that deemed suitable by the Mufti’s Offices. The "190 Religious Information Line" will be at the service of our citizens between 08:00 and 22:00, 7 days a week during the month of Ramadan. Website special to Ramadan (ramazan.diyanet.gov.tr) which will include book, magazine and other printed, audio visual materials prepared by our Presidency with the theme of “Ramadan and Righteousness” will be at the service of our nation. In our Diyanet TV, Diyanet Radio, Diyanet Qur’an Radio and Diyanet Risalet Radio, iftar and sahur programs will be carried out. Furthermore, our hodjas will carry out programs in our mosques, Qur’an courses, conference halls and TV-Radio channels and internet platforms as face to face.

“Displaying matters whose source is not known only for rating and getting credits is a great sin.”

Expressing that they see the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to bring the society and authentic religious knowledge together, President Erbaş made the following warnings:

“We also appreciate those who see themselves as competent to say something in this matter and show a great effort and effort in this regard. However, we are deeply saddened to witness that our people's interest and sensitivity in religious matters are abused from time to time in the media and social media platforms.

Let me clearly express that it is not an acceptable approach to use matters related to our beliefs and practices as a material for pointless and meaningless discussions. Randomly displaying matters, whose source is not known, which do not benefit to our people, and do not enrich our lives, only for rating and getting credits is a great sin. Therefore, I request from everyone, who carries out program, writes, and speaks particularly in television and radio channels, social media or Ramadan programs of municipalities to use gracious, constructive and uniting wording in their expressions and behaviours and to stay away from superstitions, agitation and exclusionary  attitudes by acting responsibly.”

President Erbaş said that the events to be held in Ramadan should be planned after the tarawih prayer, and that people, especially the young, should not be forced to choose between the tarawih prayer and the event.

“We are planning to reach approximately 1 million brother and sisters with the aids.”

Indicating that Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV) together with Presidency of Religious Affairs carries out a project with the theme of “Let’s Enrich our Brotherhood with Zakat”, President of Religious Affairs President Erbaş said, “our foundation will keep the moral climate of Ramadan alive in 81 provinces and all the districts in our country and in the regions where oppressed, victimized and needy people live abroad with the support of our nation this year during the month of Ramadan inshallah. We, as Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, are planning to reach approximately 1 million brothers and sisters with aids such as aid cards, food package, iftar food package, and clothing aid for the Eid, within the scope of Ramadan aid program.

President Erbaş stated that citizens who would like to provide aid to needy people via Turkiye Diyanet Foundation, can make donations such as zakat, sadaqah al-fitr, fidyah, shopping card, food package, clothing for the Eid, food for iftar through www.tdv.org and bagis.tdv.org, Provincial and District Mufti’s Offices, Turkiye Diyanet Foundation branches and contracted banks.

President Erbaş concluded his speech with the following dua:

“May the month of Ramadan bring peace to our hearts, abundance to our homes, and blessing to our family, country and Islamic World. May the Almighty Allah (swt) make these blessed times conduce to salvation and well-being of humanity and peace and tranquillity of the world.”

Senior executives of Presidency of Religious Affairs and staff of Presidency attended the meeting.