Saturday, February 18, 2023
This night, we will reach the anniversary of the Miraj incident, in which our Beloved Prophet (saw) ascended from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa and from there to the sky. I wish that this holy night will conduce to the goodness.
The Miraj incident, in which the Almighty Allah (swt) revealed some verses to our Beloved Prophet (saw) with His eternal might, expressed a miraculous ascension that contains much wisdom and beauty. This miracle, which took place at a time when our Prophet (saw) was deeply saddened by the deaths of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and Abu Talib and life became more difficult for Muslims in Mecca, was a manifestation of Almighty Allah's (swt) grace and mercy for believers and an occasion for relief.
The Miraj, which was manifested in the person of our Beloved Prophet (saw) and became a divine gift for believers, has many aspects that shed light on the present day. First of all, Miraj is a manifestation that believers who stand with patience and determination in the face of life's difficulties and troubles and who do not compromise on faith and true path will never be left alone and unassisted. It is a sign that those who persevere on the path of oneness and truth will receive many divine blessings when they least expect them.
On these days when we comprehend the anniversary of this blessed time, we are experiencing the heartbreaking pain of a disaster that has deeply wounded our nation. We are struggling with the severe consequences of the massive earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş (Pazarcik-Elbistan), which have turned 10 of our provinces into rubble with their destructive effect and caused indescribable suffering to millions of our people.
In these difficult days that we are experiencing, the importance of acting with patience, unhurriedness, and determination, strengthening the feelings of cooperation, solidarity, and sharing, and keeping the consciousness of unity, solidarity, and fraternity alive, cannot be explained. Within this context, the courage, altruism, and sacrifice that our beloved nation has put forward with great determination and perseverance from the first moment are above all appreciation. This enormous example of solidarity, displayed in cooperation between the state and the nation and with the spirit of mobilization, is the guarantee that we will overcome all difficulties with the grace of the Almighty Allah (swt).
Although our hearts burn with the embers of this great pain, we know that the way out of every worldly difficulty and trouble is to take refuge in the power and grace of the Almighty Allah (swt). For this reason, we should make Lailat al-Miraj an occasion and further strengthen our faith in Allah (swt) and our loyalty to our Beloved Prophet (saw). We must open our hands to the immense mercy of the Almighty Allah (swt), who is the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, and ask Him for help with patience and prayer. With our prayers, invocations, and material and moral support, we must strive to maintain our determination to be with and help our brothers and sisters until the end.
With these feelings and thoughts, I would like to congratulate the Lailat al-Miraj of our dear nation and all the Islamic World. I wish mercy and forgiveness for our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the earthquakes and healing and determination for those who were injured. I wish from the Almighty Allah (swt) that this holy night that we experience will conduce to the salvation of our nation and country, especially our earthquake victim brothers and sisters, from the troubles they are in.
Prof. Dr. Ali ERBAŞ
President of Religious Affairs