With the grace and blessing of Allah, inshallah, today we will attain altogether the Night of Bara’ah, which is considered to be conducing toward forgiveness, mercy and grace in our religious tradition.

Meaning salvation, forgiveness and purification, Bara’ah brings Muslims the awareness for worship and reckoning as well as avoidance from mistakes, crimes and wrongdoings, redeeming sins, forgiveness and being forgiving, and desiring to be pardoned and be pardoning.

The first condition of Bara’ah is to know from what and whom we should keep away, and to what and whom we should be close. In this respect, Bara’ah is a unique opportunity to be “acquitted” of all kinds of sorrow and distress too much to overcome for our souls, of all mistakes and sinners hurting us, words, attitudes and behavior seemless for humanity.

Depicting the most important mark of change and transformation in our journey of worship, Bara’ah is an important glad tidings which informs us that we all are born innocently (free from sins).

Bara’ah is a rapprochement which prepares us for the month of Ramadan starting to embower us with its radiant air, and brings us together with our Lord, who gradually guides us to perfection with a vivid mind and a clear heart, on the grounds of obeisance and obedience.

Everyone who attains the Night of Bara’ah should revert to type, revive their hopes, and strengthen their feelings of forgiveness and being forgiving, realizing the good news from Allah Almighty in the Holy Qur’an, which says, “Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." and with the appeal of our Beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) “O Allah! I take refuge in your forgiveness from your wrath, I take refuge in your content from your punishment.”

In these feelings and thoughts, I congratulate the Night of Bara’ah for the whole Islamic world, particularly our precious nation. With the occasion of this blessed night, I pray to Allah Almighty that our nation be absolved from all kinds of troubles and difficulties, and that we enter the month of Ramadan in an acquitted fashion with our hearts disburdened of sins.

Professor Ali ERBAŞ

President of Religious Affairs of Turkey