Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Allah (swt), has bestowed upon humanity the highest status among all His creations, referring to them as “Ashraful Makhluqat” (the noblest of creatures) in the Quran. Great scholars have defined humans as social beings. Indeed, one of the most distinctive characteristics of humans is their existence within the framework of social life. Their entry into the world occurs within the smallest unit of society, the family. As they grow, they become part of a neighbourhood, a city, and ultimately, a member of a country. One consequence of this membership is the development of their social identity over time. Social identity represents the various aspects of a person’s identity, such as age, gender, status and beliefs. Although a person with a social identity is composed of various identities, when it comes to being a Muslim, their Islamic identity is priority.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

For an individual who believes in Allah (swt), His Messenger (saw) and the Day of Judgment, the most important identity in society is their Islamic identity, which stems from their faith. This sacred identity takes precedence over other identities such as background, race, gender and status. This is because a believer’s understanding of life and their resulting lifestyle are primarily determined by their faith. Belief itself is a distinctive quality that sets humans apart from other creatures. A believer reflects and embodies the principles of their faith in all their social identities, essentially engraving them. Within the fabric of society, they prioritise their Islamic identity above all else. This is because the identity of a believer is the result of their relationship with Allah (swt), who grants us life. As described in the Quran, a believer lives their life with the principle: “Certainly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.”[1]

 Dear Jama’ah!

As bearers of the Muslim identity, when we reside as minorities in certain regions, we should actively participate in social life with the high moral standards prescribed by Islam. In our interactions with individuals of different beliefs, we should strive to be just and merciful. By adhering to the principle of showing respect to creation and demonstrating compassion, which Islam has instilled in us, we should extend our sense of mercy not only to people but also to animals and nature. We should be friendly and sincere in our dealings with others, always with a smile. The noble Prophet (saw), who was sent to complete good character, said, “A believer is friendly and approachable. There is no goodness in one who is neither friendly nor approached by others.”[2] Let us not forget that throughout history, Muslims have been known for their hospitable and charitable qualities towards other people. We should not forget this noble trait and be able to pass it on to future generations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!     

Allah (swt) describes the believers as those who “respond to their Lord’s call, observe their prayers, and conduct their affairs by mutual consultation; and who spend out of what We have provided them. ”[3]  As Muslims, it is our duty to assist those who are experiencing socio-economic hardship.

Finally, we extend our condolences to our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the recent earthquake in Morocco and the flood disaster in Libya. We pray for Allah’s mercy for those who have passed away and swift recovery for the injured. We offer our duas for a swift recovery to the affected communities in Morocco and Libya. Our relief workers have been on the ground from the very beginning, distributing your donations to the earthquake and flood victims. Through HASENE, we hope and pray that your contributions will be accepted as a virtuous act in the sight of Allah (swt).

May Allah (swt) bless us to cherish and uphold our Islamic identity. Ameen.

 

[1] Surah Al-An’am 6:162

[2] İbn Hanbel, II, 400

[3] Surah Ash-Shuraa 42:38

 

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