The President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş have performed an online meeting with title of “Services of Religious Affairs, Problems and Solutions in Time of Pandemic” together with provincial and county muftis.

In the meeting which was attended by the executives of the Presidency of Religious Affairs as well, evaluating the works which were performed by the Presidency during the epidemic, the President of Religious Affairs Erbaş expressed that we are in an extraordinary process due to Covid-19 epidemic and thanked to the provincial and county muftis for the works they have performed and for their self-sacrifices and efforts at the point of serving to the community during this process.

Reminding that there are significant principles of the ideal stand and actions of the believer in the face of misfortunes and hardships, the President of Religious Affairs Erbaş said, “One of the most fundamental duties of ours was to guide our nation to take the most proper stand against this misfortune that we have been experiencing in this process and we have always tried to materialize such duty of ours. Especially, we have always drawn the attention to the four fundamental principles and approaches such as warning, caution, trust and dua at every occasion by our khutbas, sermons and statements.”

Stating that we need to approach what we have been experiencing with warning and reflect on it by considering the fundamental principles of the existence, the President Erbaş talked as, “As we read it correctly, we shall see that all events in the universe, negative or positive, imply to significant facts. In this respect, this epidemic we have been experiencing at a global level includes some vital messages about the responsibilities of the human and his relation with the Almighty Allah (swt), the nature, science, ethics and the law.”

Underlining that the most primary duty of the human in the face of troubles and misfortunes is to be cautious and act with the sense of responsibility by taking any kind of measures within his power, the President Erbaş said, “It is an inevitable responsibility to account whether there is an effect of the misbehaviors and actions of the human on such troubles and misfortunes we have been experiencing. As we already know that sometimes such misfortunes are created due to the misbehaviors of the human. Is it possible not to remind this verse; “Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because on the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness.”

“Today, the duty which falls upon us is to challenge with commitment, patience and perseverance to eliminate the epidemic”

Saying “We know that the problems which we have been experiencing at a global level today are caused significantly by the weaknesses, ambitions and negligence regarding the sense of responsibility of the human,”  the President Erbaş continued his words as follows:

“Therefore, to evaluate all events we have been experiencing within the framework of self-criticizing without disregarding the existence of a trial in any event happened to us shall lead us to build a safer and more beautiful future.

Today, the duty which falls upon us is to challenge with commitment, patience and perseverance to eliminate the epidemic to which all humanity has been exposed with the spirit of unity and solidarity. It is to get the right lesson from such misfortune we have been experiencing. It is to duly comply with the decisions and measures taken by consenting to the destiny with trust. We will deliver this to our nation. We have always tried to establish an awareness in the axis of such facts during this process altogether.

I should say that I consider this aspect that I have just mentioned as highly significant. Because if we neglect the aforementioned cases, there will be such risk of misunderstanding and misinterpretation of such troubles and misfortunes especially on minds of the young generations.”

“We have witnessed more closely in this process that the Diyanet TV and our radios are such great facilities”

Drawing the attention to the fact that the Presidency of Religious Affairs was the closest to the nation in this epidemic process as well, he talked as “We have used every means available to provide any needs of our nation, materially or morally. It has been clearly witnesses that the Presidency of Religious Affairs, our mosques and religious officials are such important fort his community.”

Expressing that the services of Irshad were performed via digital platforms during the pandemic process, the President Erbaş used expressions, “We have witnessed more closely in this process that the Diyanet TV and our radios are such great facilities. We tried to perform our several services, especially the irshad activities, via our media means. Therefore, it have gained a stance of more vital and important to introduce our publications especially the Diyanet Television to our nation. We need to accelerate these works.”

“There is an increased compliance at the point of obeying to the rules of mask, prayer rugs and others in the mosques”

Drawing the attention to the importance of the measures taken in the mosques in challenge against the pandemic, the President Erbaş talked as, “While there is an increased compliance and order at the point of obeying to the rules of mask, prayer rugs and others in the mosques, it is also a fact that sometimes such events to put our officials in trouble have occurred. Our sensitivity to the troubles faced and to be faced in the administration of civil with cooperation should continue. We need to pay special attention to solve the possible problems regarding the Friday prayers and other cases in an appropriate and timely manner with the initiatives of the Governorates.”

Mentioning that some of the trainings performed by the Presidency have been executed as online, the President Erbaş evaluated as “Our activities of non-formal religious education in all their fields require great attention and sensitivity. Taking all precautions, especially cleaning, communication with students and parents and other cases should be followed carefully. Of course in this process, we have witnessed the necessity of a strong substructure regarding the distance education, as we are all awared, and we will deem this field stronger and effective immediately, Insha Allah.”

“Our activities of aid domestically and abroad have continued during the pandemic”

Reminding that the activities of aid domestically and abroad have continued during the pandemic,  the President Erbaş talked as follows:

“The devoted and exemplary works of our consultancies and attachés abroad in coordination with our Presidency were appreciated by the general and local administrations and the citizens of the related countries and led to some positive responses.

Our work of sacrifice with Proxy has increased more than ever with the share amount of 550 thousand. For such matter, I present my deepest gratitude to you and our religious officials. 550 thousand sacrifice means almost 25 million houses with sacrifice meat in their kitchens. The consequence of this service is not limited with just delivering some kilograms of meat, this also means that we deliver the love and benevolence of our nation to those countries. It means that we deliver the generosity and spirit of sharing and solidarity of our nation to millions of people.”

“Today also, there is a time of national challenge”

Underlining that the religious officials are always side by side with the nation, the President Erbaş talked as, “We were side by side with our nation in the war of independence, our national challenge. Today also, there is a time of national challenge. We challenge against the epidemic. Our challenge against the terrorist organizations who set their evil eye on our motherland and those countries which support such organizations continues as ever. This will continue as it is and we will resume to take precautions and warn our nation.”

“We will execute the opening of the Hagia Sophia Mosque Symposium at the Mosques and Religious Officials Week”

The President Erbaş stated that they will address the subject of “Mosque and Science” at the Mosques and Religious Officials Week and “Our Prophet and Children” at the Mawlid al-Nabi Week within the next month.

Stating that the opening of the Mosques and Religious Officials Week will be executed at the date of October 1st, Thursday in the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the President Erbaş talked as, “We will execute the opening of the Hagia Sophia Mosque Symposium at the date of October 2nd, Friday at 14:00 (2PM) at the courtyard of the Hagia Sophia Mosque. The symposium will be broadcasted via digital platforms for 3 days.”